Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

West Bank: Settler Activity

Tuesday 16 June 2026 · 10 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 10 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The UK Government announced new sanctions targeting networks supporting settler activity in the West Bank.
  • The Foreign Secretary condemned the rising settler violence and expansion of Israeli settlements as a breach of international law.
  • The Government is working internationally to address settlement violence and promote a two-state solution, including raising the issue with the Advertising Standards Authority.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alex McIntyre Lab Gloucester
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from ongoing diplomatic concerns over settler violence and illegal activities in the West Bank, which are seen as obstacles to peace.

Question

What diplomatic steps her Department is taking in response to settler activity in the west bank?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

The settlements in the west bank are a fundamental barrier to peace, and a flagrant breach of international law. We condemn the rising and incredibly disturbing settler violence that we have seen over the past year. Last week I announced a new wave of sanctions to target the networks that are supporting this violence, which is the fourth package of sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers under this Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to further specific actions beyond current measures.

How: Under Review, Considering

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Clive Betts Lab Sheffield South East
Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

The question is prompted by the murder of Jo Cox, a Labour MP who was killed in an attack on her constituency surgery.

Question

Let me add a few words about the murder of Jo Cox. I was a friend and colleague of Jo's, and I still remember the numbness and shock that I felt on hearing the news. Quite simply, no Member of this House should fear for their life because they speak out on behalf of their constituents. The west bank is illegally occupied by Israel. The settlements are illegal and have been expanded through extreme violence by settlers, supported by the Israel Defence Forces. In May, the Dutch Government decided to ban trade in goods from settlements. They did so because they wanted to put pressure on the Israeli Government. Doing anything was better than doing nothing. Should we follow suit?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

Let me respond to my hon. Friend's important point. We are clear that action is needed, and we are acting. This Government have done more on this issue in the last two years than any Government have done for many decades, because we are so concerned about settlement expansion and settler violence. A number of countries have explored legal bans but also had challenges with them, and we are looking at what they have done.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific UK actions like the Dutch Government took.

How: Under Review, Considering

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question is prompted by a significant number of violent incidents in the West Bank involving settlers, leading to casualties and property damage.

Question

There have been over 760 incidents this year, resulting in casualties, property damage and 57 deaths. Diplomacy and action so far are not moving the dial. What will it take for the Government to take further action, and go further on sanctions?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

Last week we did take further action and set out a new wave of sanctions. On Friday I went to Paris for a meeting with other Foreign Ministers, met civil society organisations and community organisations from across Israel and Palestine. Last week we launched the international peace fund with Australia and Canada in order to support the community-level building of the foundations of a two-state solution. Later this week I will go to Egypt to have similar discussions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to further specific actions beyond current measures.

How: Under Review, Considering

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Luke Murphy Lab Basingstoke
Foreign Affairs Children & Families
Context

The question is prompted by reports indicating a significant number of Palestinian children have been killed or detained in the West Bank.

Question

One Palestinian child has been killed every week in the west bank since January 2025. What steps are the Government taking with international partners to improve safety for these children?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

My hon. Friend is right to raise the plight of children in the west bank. I would add to that the terrible plight of children in Gaza, where there is still not sufficient humanitarian support—that has gone backwards too. Some of this is about the impact of violence; some targeted and ideologically driven violence against Palestinians on their own land is settler terrorism, which we should call that. We are continuing to provide support for children in Palestine including by providing additional funding for the Palestinian Authority so that it can pay the salaries of teachers and keep schools going.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to specific steps beyond ongoing support, did not address education disruption.

How: Under Review, Considering

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 Alex McIntyre Lab Gloucester
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question is prompted by a letter signed by over 140 colleagues to the Foreign Secretary requesting further action against settler violence.

Question

Last week I signed a letter to the Foreign Secretary, along with 140 colleagues, asking the Government to take further action in response to settler violence and the rhetoric used by two far-right Israeli Government Ministers. Over the last two years, I have heard from hundreds of my constituents expressing deep concern about the Israeli Government's actions in the west bank. Will the Secretary of State commit today to banning all trade with illegal settlements?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. The expansion of Israeli settlements and some of the violence circulating in them is a deliberate attempt by hardliners to undermine any possibility of a two-state solution and pursue what is effectively illegal annexation. We agree that no one should be trading with illegal settlements, which is different from long-standing legitimate trade with businesses across Israel. A small number of countries have explored legal bans but also had challenges with them. The most effective impact we can have on all these issues is to work internationally.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to banning trade, did not specify challenges faced by other countries.

How: Under Review, Considering

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Simon Hoare Con North Dorset
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP noted incidents of settler violence being enabled and encouraged by Israeli authorities, leading to property damage and intimidation.

Question

I welcome the Foreign Secretary's use of the term “settler terrorism”. She will be aware that settler terrorism is often enabled and encouraged, or a blind eye turned, by both the Israeli police and the IDF. Can she remind her Israeli Government counterparts of the importance of the rule of law?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

We continually raise these issues with the Israeli Government, including sanctions on organisations supporting settler violence. There has to be accountability for what are, effectively, criminal acts.

Partly answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q7 Andrew George Lib Dem St Ives
Community Security Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP expressed concern over the lack of action from the UK government despite significant historical responsibility and current outrage.

Question

Does the Secretary of State not listen to her Back Benchers? It is incumbent on her to take action now, not simply look at things or seek partnership. Does she agree that immediate action is necessary?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

The UK has already taken stronger measures than many other countries, including imposing sanctions on individual members of the Israeli Cabinet and working internationally for a two-state solution.

Partly answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q8 Brendan O'Hara SNP Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber
Foreign Affairs
Context

Amnesty International published a report detailing state-sanctioned and financed ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.

Question

Does the Government accept that this is state-enabled ethnic cleansing? If they do, should they not be doing much more to prevent it and punish the perpetrators?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

We need international action to address the deep challenge of settlement violence. We have been working on an international consensus for the 20-point plan for Gaza and will continue to seek progress in Egypt.

Partly answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q9 Ellie Chowns Green North Herefordshire
Foreign Affairs
Context

An event marketed illegal property in settlements on British soil, despite previous commitments from the Government.

Question

How is it that this Government fail even to prevent the marketing of illegal property in this country? Will she step up and ban trade with illegal settlements?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

We have raised the matter directly with the Advertising Standards Authority to ensure that any evidence of promotion or advertisement of property in illegal settlements is addressed.

Partly answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q10 Calum Miller Lib Dem Bicester and Woodstock
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from the expansion of illegal settlements in Palestine, which has raised concerns about the protection of Palestinian territorial integrity and political reform within the Palestinian state. President Abbas announced that legislative and presidential elections will be held in early 2027.

Question

May I associate my party with your tribute to the life and work of Jo Cox, Mr Speaker, and extend our thoughts to her family and her many friends? The prospect of a two-state solution rests on at least two essential conditions: the protection of Palestine's territorial integrity, and political reform within the Palestinian state. This weekend in London, we saw the selling of properties in illegal settlements. The expansion of such settlements must instead be reversed by cutting off their finance at source. Will the Foreign Secretary commit to withdrawing the licence to operate of any UK financial institution facilitating credit or services for illegal settlement activity? Given that President Abbas has now announced that legislative and presidential elections will be held in early 2027, what measures are the Government taking to ensure that those elections will be free and fair?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

We continue to look at what further sanctions could be needed in order to address illegal settlements, the activity linked to them, and settler violence. We support the reform measures around the Palestinian Authority, including the free and fair elections, which are crucial. We provide direct funding to the Palestinian Authority, including to pay salaries, and we provide expertise to support the modernisation of the Palestinian Authority.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Foreign Secretary did not commit to withdrawing licences for UK financial institutions involved in illegal settlements.

How: We Continue To Look At What Further Sanctions Could Be Needed

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email