MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign
Secretary, speaking in response to the government's
statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict in the House of Commons
today, said
"Mr Speaker, can I thank the Right Honourable Member for advance
sight of his statement.
I would have started by welcoming the new foreign secretary to
his place.
But I can’t do that because he isn’t here.
Despite my respect for the Rt Hon Gentleman opposite, he is not
the Foreign Secretary.
And we don’t know when or how this House will hear from the
Foreign Secretary, because he is not a member.
is the seventh Foreign
Secretary in the seven years of Tory chaos after he was forced to
resign in failure over a matter of foreign policy.
The Prime Minister has looked at each of the 350 MPs sitting
opposite and decided none of them was better at representing
Britain’s interests on the world stage.
claimed he was for change.
Instead, he has just resurrected yesterday’s failure with an
honour.
This decision raises serious questions for this House, that I
know you share, Mr Speaker.
At a time of grave international crises, at a moment of war in
Europe, with a more assertive China, a climate crisis, and a
horrifying conflict in Gaza, this House needs government
accountability now more than ever.
Will the Minister commit to working closely with the Speaker to
ensure the Opposition, and all MPs, can hold the Foreign
Secretary to account?
Turning to the horrors of Gaza.
More than 11,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, with
two thirds of the dead being women and children. This is
shocking and devastating.
Every civilian death is an equal tragedy.
Does the Minister agree with me that the number of Palestinian
civilians and children have been killed over the past month is
intolerable?
And does he agree that Israel must make changes to the way it is
fighting this war, by taking urgent, concrete steps to protect
civilians?
I am gravely concerned by the desperate reports from hospitals in
Northern Gaza.
These were already overstretched with the wounded.
Short of fuel and filled with civilians seeking shelter.
Doctors now forced to make impossible choices as they try to care
for the wounded and newborns without power. Some have now lost
their lives.
Medical establishments have special protection under
international law. They should never be targeted or used as
shields.
All parties must follow international law, acting with necessity,
distinction, proportionality and precaution.
Allegations of breaches should always be treated with utmost
seriousness.
I know the Minister said last week that his government supports
ICC independence, as Labour do.
But he failed to answer whether the government recognises its
jurisdiction to address the conduct of all parties in Gaza.
As Prime Minister, rejected it and attacked the
court.
Labour recognises the ICC’s jurisdiction. Can he clarify this
government’s position today?
Gaza is in a humanitarian catastrophe.
More than 1.5 million people have been displaced. There are
desperate shortages of basic essentials.
Does the Minister agree that the short pauses in the North are
clearly not enough?
Gazans need aid now. Medicine now. Water now. Food now. Fuel now.
A full, comprehensive and immediate humanitarian pause in the
fighting across the whole of Gaza now.
To alleviate Palestinian suffering. And for Hamas terrorists to
release the hostages.
Mr Speaker, Hamas’ stated aim is to wipe Israel off the
map.
They committed the most brutal attack on Jews since the
holocaust.
Now they are using innocents Palestinians as human shields.
I would like to register my shock that not every member of this
House can say this truth.
Hamas are terrorists.
We must not give up on the narrow openings that keep the prospect
of peace alive.
That means preventing escalation.
Condemning violence from settlers in the West Bank.
Condemning rocket attacks on Israel from Iran’s proxies in
Lebanon and elsewhere.
Creating a future where Gaza is not subject to occupation.
Meanwhile, international diplomacy evolves and the facts on the
ground are changing day-by-day, in relation to both hostages
being rescued and Hamas’s capability to carry out attacks like we
saw on 7 October.
As the Leader of the Opposition set out to Chatham House, we must
move to a full cessation of fighting as quickly as
possible.
The reality is that neither the long-term security of Israel nor
long-term justice for Palestine can be delivered by bombs and
bullets.
We must seek a path to a political process that leads to two
states.
A secure Israel. And an independent Palestine."
