I am sure we all share the revulsion at Hamas’s murderous acts of
terrorism, the targeting of civilians, the murdering of children,
the desecration of dead bodies. And I’m sure we are all
distressed by the plight of Palestinian civilians in Gaza whose
lives have been made harder, more painful and more dangerous
because of the brutal attacks by Hamas on the 7th of October. And
we all mourn the dead, both Israeli and Palestinian.
This has been an issue which has long stimulated passions and we
are now all seeing on social media and in our communities how
divisive and polarising the current situation has become. So we
have a duty, a duty to work together to prevent instability from
engulfing the region and claiming yet more lives. We must work
together to prevent the tragic situation in Gaza becoming a
regional conflict because that is exactly what Hamas wants.
We remind ourselves that just months ago the Negev summit was a
moment of hope, hope for peaceful coexistence between the
Israelis and the Palestinians. Hamas has long stood in direct
opposition to that vision and we must therefore ensure that Hamas
does not win. Rather, we must ensure the peaceful co-existence
wins.
The UK notes the thoughtful and calm words of President Abbas on
behalf of the Palestinian people, and we are grateful to the
governments who are seeking to intercede on behalf of those held
hostage and those foreign nationals who are trapped in Gaza. And
we are grateful for the work to ensure that the humanitarian aid,
which many of us have partially funded, reaches those Gazans who
are deeply in need.
The UK is clear and has been consistently clear that Israel has
the right to self-defence and the right to secure the release of
those who were kidnapped on the 7th of October. And we are also
clear that we must work and they must work to alleviate the
suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza and that their
actions are in accordance with international law. I have spoken
directly to the Israeli government about their duty to respect
international law and the importance of preserving civilian lives
in Gaza. Despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, I have
called for discipline and professionalism and restraint from the
Israeli military.
The situation currently unfolding is probably the most
challenging situation that I have had to deal with in my
professional, personal or political life. And I suspect that I am
not alone.
But I still believe in the power of diplomacy, and I still
believe that we can work together to secure a future where
Israelis and Palestinians live in peace.
