Extracts from FCDO
questions
Violence in the West Bank
(Luton South) (Lab)
1. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of recent increases in violence in the west bank.
(900589)
(Stockton North) (Lab)
11. What assessment he has made of recent increases in violence
in the west bank. (900599)
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP)
19. Whether officials in his Department have had discussions with
their counterparts in Israel on the recent
escalation of violence in the West Bank. (900607)
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office ( )
The Government have made it clear that settler violence and the
targeting and, on occasions, killing of Palestinian civilians is
completely unacceptable.
As calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and an enduring peaceful
resolution in the region continue, we must also remain opposed to
the violence taking place in the west bank. To that end, does the
Minister share my view that settlement building in the west bank
and across the Occupied Palestinian Territories is unacceptable
and unlawful and must stop immediately?
Mr Mitchell
Yes. The hon. Lady will know that the position of the Government
is and has been for many years that those settlements are
illegal. I am pleased to be able to confirm that for her.
The same question could be asked again: it is unlawful, but what
are the Government going to do about it? Does the Minister think
that one day we might actually see some prosecutions in relation
to those violations of international law?
Mr Mitchell
On the point about settler violence, if that is what the hon.
Gentleman is referring to, we believe that it is not good enough
just to arrest those responsible. They need to be both prosecuted
and imprisoned.
The problem is that there are key figures in the Israeli
Government who are stoking this violence, with the Finance
Minister publicly declaring that there are “2 million Nazis” in
the west bank. What representation is the Secretary of State
making to Israeli counterparts to demand a far more robust
response to this violence?
Mr Mitchell
I can tell the hon. Lady that the Prime Minister spoke about this
directly with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 5 December and he made
clear that we welcome Israel’s recent comments condemning
instances of settler violence, but that Israel must take
meaningful action to stop it.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Tottenham) (Lab)
Another day when the Foreign Secretary is unaccountable, in the
middle of a war that could still get even worse. West bank
violence is rising, Hezbollah have attacked Israeli positions and
Israeli airstrikes have hit towns in south Lebanon. A widening of
this conflict is in no one’s interest, and all parties must show
restraint. While he is absent from this place, what steps is the
Foreign Secretary taking to prepare for further escalation and to
deter all parties from full-blown regional war?
Mr Mitchell
First of all, I fully understand that the right hon. Gentleman
wishes to have close contact with as the Foreign Secretary, but
he will be aware that he is in almost continuous contact with the
Foreign Secretary by text and WhatsApp—indeed, Mr Speaker, if he
was in any closer contact it would probably be a civil
partnership.
On the substantive point about the widening of the conflict, the
right hon. Gentleman will know that, very early after 7 October,
the Prime Minister moved a British military asset to the eastern
end of the Mediterranean, first to try to ensure that, if there
were any arms being moved, we would know about it, and secondly
to have eyes on what was happening. British diplomacy, along with
that of our like-minded allies and friends, is devoted to
ensuring that the conflict does not widen.
Mr Speaker
We come now to the SNP spokesperson.
(Stirling) (SNP)
The UK is providing logistical and surveillance support to the
state of Israel Has any
evidence come to light that gives concern about the commission of
war crimes in the west bank or in Gaza?
Mr Mitchell
Britain is providing some overflight of Gaza to help us identify,
and move forward the issue of recovering, the hostages. That is
exactly the right thing to do.
To repeat the question, has any evidence come to light that gives
concern about the commission of war crimes? Can the Minister
assure us that any such evidence that comes to light will be sent
over to the International Criminal Court in response to its call
for evidence under article 86, with which the UK is surely bound
to co-operate?
Mr Mitchell
The hon. Gentleman will know that it is not just the Government
but many different organisations that are seeking to identify
what is happening on the ground, and the extent to which
international humanitarian law is being abided with. Any such
evidence will undoubtedly be put before the relevant
authority—the courts that he mentioned, specifically—if such
evidence is available.
Gaza: Civilian Deaths
and Humanitarian Situation
(Hammersmith) (Lab)
4. What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart
in Israel on the number of
civilian deaths in Gaza.(900592)
(Harrogate and Knaresborough)
(Con)
5. What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart
in Israel on the number of
civilian deaths in Gaza.(900593)
(Bradford East) (Lab)
10. What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart
in Israel on the number of
civilian deaths in Gaza.(900598)
(South Shields) (Lab)
15. What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart
in Israel on the number of
civilian deaths in Gaza.(900603)
(Manchester, Withington)
(Lab)
21. What recent discussions he has had with his counterpart
in Israel on the situation
in Gaza.(900609)
Neil O’Brien (Harborough) (Con)
22. What steps he is taking to support civilians in
Gaza.(900610)
(Oxford West and Abingdon)
(LD)
23. What assessment he has made of the implications for his
policies of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.(900611)
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office ( )
Britain has increased planned assistance to Palestinian civilians
to £60 million, and has delivered over 74 tonnes of aid. The
recent pauses in fighting were a welcome opportunity to get
hostages out and aid in. We know that more is needed: more fuel,
increased humanitarian access and assistance into Gaza, and
compliance with international humanitarian law.
Did the Minister see the analysis recently published in the
respected Israeli newspaper Haaretzthat the proportion of
civilian deaths in Gaza is significantly higher than the average
civilian death toll in all conflicts around the world during the
20th century? Does that not give the lie to any claim
that Israel is avoiding
civilian deaths, and as the death toll in Gaza approaches 20,000,
is it not now time for the whole international
community—including the UK—to support a ceasefire that protects
civilian lives?
Mr Mitchell
The hon. Gentleman will know the importance that the Government
and Opposition Front Benchers attach to saving civilian lives,
and will know that Britain has made it absolutely clear to the
authorities in Israel that we expect
them to abide by international humanitarian law and understand
and accept the rules of war. He will equally know that the
unprecedented figures he refers to follow on the back of an
unprecedented attack by terrorists on 7 October, a pogrom in
which more Jewish people were murdered than at any time since
1945 in the holocaust.
I wholeheartedly welcome the fact that the UK has increased its
humanitarian aid by £60 million since 7 October. Can my right
hon. Friend outline how his Department is working to ensure that
that funding is spent as effectively as possible, by which I mean
reaching those in the most urgent need? I am sure we have all
been greatly distressed by the suffering of the innocent
civilians in this conflict.
Mr Mitchell
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have 82 tonnes of
humanitarian supplies in Cyprus ready to go, and 5 tonnes of
medical equipment ready to go. As soon as there is the
possibility of getting more aid and support into Gaza, we will be
using those supplies to do exactly that.
In the past nine weeks, over 250 Palestinians—including 69
children—have been killed by the Israeli security forces in the
west bank, and over the past year we have seen a dangerous rise
in the number of attacks by violent, illegal Israeli settlers
against Palestinians and their property. Even the United States
announced that it would impose a travel ban on violent extremist
settlers last week, but all the UK Government have been able to
announce is that planning is going on. How much more bloodshed do
we need to see before the Government stop planning and start
acting, and will the Minister take real action today against
violent, illegal settlers?
Mr Mitchell
I made clear in my answer to Question 1 that the Government
condemn without qualification the illegal attacks by settlers on
Palestinians. The hon. Gentleman asks me specifically about visa
bans; while I cannot give a commentary in this House, I can tell
him that our plans in that respect are moving forward.
Mrs Lewell-Buck
A stop-start approach is likely to prolong hostage captivity and
increase the risk to hostages’ lives. It also continues the
relentless loss of civilians and innocent children. If the UN
Security Council resolution returns with a condemnation of Hamas,
will the UK do the right thing this time and back an immediate
humanitarian ceasefire?
Mr Mitchell
As the hon. Lady will know, not least from the urgent question
asked in the House yesterday by the right hon. Member for
Tottenham (Mr Lammy), neither the Government nor the Opposition
believe that a ceasefire is the right way to proceed. However, I
can tell her that we are very heavily engaged in what is
happening in these Security Council resolutions, and the Security
Council permanent members were at Rafah yesterday, looking in
detail at the situation on the ground.
There has to be a ceasefire to protect civilians in Gaza. Does
the Minister agree with the US Secretary for Defence when he said
that
“protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is both a moral
responsibility and a strategic imperative”,
and that
“if you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a
tactical victory with a strategic defeat”?
Are the Government making those representations to the Israeli
Government?
Mr Mitchell
Of course, the position of the American Defence Secretary is
exactly the position of the British Government, and that is why
we say at all points that everyone must adhere international
humanitarian law.
Neil O’Brien
The whole House is appalled by the atrocities committed by Hamas,
but also by the civilian suffering in Gaza. Will my right hon.
Friend set out the steps he is taking to relieve civilian
suffering, and also the steps he is taking against illegal
settlements and the actions of violent settlers, because they are
an obstacle to the two-state solution and to a lasting and just
peace?
Mr Mitchell
On the first part of my hon. Friend’s question, I can tell him
that we have delivered 74 tonnes of aid to el-Arish, which we are
trying to make sure gets in. On specific relief, I can inform the
House that 100 trucks and 120,600 litres of fuel did get across
the border into Rafah yesterday. It is nothing like enough, but
there was some progress yesterday.
Israel has detained huge numbers of Palestinians in Gaza. The
International Committee of the Red Cross has received reports of
3,000 missing between 7 October and 29 November, and many also in
the west bank. We have seen the images of those men stripped on
the beaches, and Haaretz has released an article showing that 10%
to 15% of them were connected to Hamas, which means that nearly
90% were not. Are this Government making representations to the
Israeli Government about their treatment of Palestinian
detainees?
Mr Mitchell
The situation the hon. Member describes is not clear in the fog
of war, but I can tell her that we emphasise to everyone the
importance of abiding by international humanitarian law and of
course the Geneva convention, to which she was referring.
(The Wrekin) (Con)
Every life lost, whether Palestinian or Israeli, is a tragedy,
and so often in conflict and wars it is the children who suffer
the most. What further discussions has my right hon. Friend had
with the United States and other partners about having new
humanitarian pauses? Finally, I am supportive of the Government,
but may I ask him whether he feels that the Israeli response is
proportionate?
Mr Mitchell
We are arguing in every way we possibly can that there need to be
humanitarian pauses, and that they need to be five days long so
that we can get relief and humanitarian supplies into Gaza. On my
right hon. Friend’s final point about proportionate force, as I
said earlier during these questions, that is why we emphasise
continuously the importance of abiding by the rules of war.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(West Ham) (Lab)
In Gaza, almost 80% of the population have been forced from their
homes with nowhere safe to go. Sewage is flowing in the streets,
with enormous risk to health, while hospitals and ambulances
continue to be hit. Half the population are starving. The most
recent report is of over 18,000 Palestinians killed, including
utterly appalling numbers of children. I recognise the efforts of
Ministers, but it is barely even slowing down the tide of death
when the humanitarian crisis simply needs to end. What is the
Minister’s strategy to do that?
Mr Mitchell
At all points, Britain is trying to use its brilliant
international network, working not only with the other United
Nations Security Council members, but through our intense
diplomatic network around the middle east. On trying to see a
political track when it becomes available, Britain, with its
allies, is doing everything possible to achieve that. On the
suffering that the hon. Lady described—everyone in the House will
agree with her analysis of that—the Foreign Secretary recently
announced an additional £30 million of support. We are looking at
how that can be used specifically to assist with medical issues,
particularly for children.
Israel and
International Law
(Bristol East) (Lab)
8. What recent discussions he has had with his Israeli
counterpart on Israel’s obligations under international
law.(900596)
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office ( )
Israel has the right to defend itself against terror, restore its
security and bring the hostages home, but it must abide by
international law and take all possible measures to protect
civilians.
I do not disagree with anything that the Minister has just said,
but the question is: what does Israel having to
abide by international law actually look like? We know that it
has acted with impunity in the west bank with illegal
settlements, and historically with the building of the wall and
so on. As my hon. Friend the Member for Hammersmith () said, the sheer scale of
casualties of innocent civilians in Gaza raises serious
questions. What does it actually mean when we say
that Israel has to abide by
international law?
Mr Mitchell
It means precisely what it says. The fact that Israel is a democracy
and the fact that all around the world people will be looking
carefully at how things are being conducted in the region should
give the hon. Lady hope that international humanitarian law
counts and will be supported.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Caerphilly) (Lab)
Recently the International Criminal Court prosecutor, Karim Khan
KC, visited Israel and the west
bank. In relation to Gaza, he stated:
“A law is not some cosmetic adornment that can be disregarded.
It’s a fundamental requirement that must be complied with.”
I assume the Minister will agree with that. If that is the case,
will he ensure that Britain co-operates fully with the prosecutor
in his work?
Mr Mitchell
As a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court,
Britain will always co-operate. We strongly support the ICC. The
hon. Gentleman will know that, as a state party to the Geneva
convention, the Israeli Government are obliged to take action
against Israeli nationals accused of grave breaches of
international humanitarian law, were there to be any, so that
would not be a matter for the ICC.
Iran
(Chipping Barnet)
(Con)
9. What steps he is taking to help tackle destabilising
activities by Iran in the middle east.(900597)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Affairs ()
Iran bears responsibility for groups it has long supported. We
have stepped up our response to recent attacks. HMS Diamond will
bolster our maritime presence in the region and a new Iran
sanctions regime will soon be in place, giving us greater powers
to designate Iranian activity.
The regime in Tehran has been blatant, public and even
unapologetic about its backing, funding and arming of
Hamas—terrorists who we now know are not just murders but
rapists. In the light of that, is it not time to snap back the
full range of sanctions on Iran, to sanction a wider number of
officials in Iran and to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps?
Our new Iran sanctions regime will be laid imminently, giving us
new and enhanced powers to counter Iran’s hostile activities in
the UK and around the world, and its oppressive practices at
home. We have already sanctioned more than 350 Iranian
individuals and entities, including the IRGC in its entirety.
Sir (Rhondda) (Lab)
I agree with the comments made by the right hon. Member for
Chipping Barnet (), but should we not also
be wondering about what Iran is doing within its own borders?
Four hundred and nineteen people were executed in Iran between
January and July, and 127 have been executed since 7 October.
Iran has been using what is happening in Israel as
a cover for much faster executions, including those of
17-year-old Hamidreza Azari—a child—and Milad Zohrevand, who is
the eighth “Woman, Life, Freedom” protester to have been executed
by this horrible regime. Is it not time that we really took the
case to Iran about its own human rights record?
The hon. Member makes a very important point. We call out the
brutal repression of the protests that have taken place, and we
continue to hold Iran to account for its human rights record,
including the repression of women, girls and children, as he
highlights. We will, as I said, bring to bear a new sanctions
regime to assist in those efforts.
Israel and
Palestine
(Putney) (Lab)
13. What recent diplomatic steps he has taken to help secure
peace in Israel and
Palestine.(900601)
(Glasgow East) (SNP)
17. What recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of
formally recognising the state of Palestine.(900605)
(Heywood and Middleton)
(Con)
20. What steps his Department is taking with international
partners to support a two-state solution in Israel and
Palestine.(900608)
(Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab)
24. Whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of
Israel’s campaign against Hamas.(900612)
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office ( )
There must be a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict—a two-state solution that provides justice and security
for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The aerial bombardment by Israel of one of the
most densely populated regions in the world in Gaza has been
devastating. Recent statistics reported in Israel show that 61% of
deaths in Gaza have been civilians. When the Prime Minister spoke
to the Israeli Prime Minister last week, did he urge him to stop
besieging and blockading Gaza, to comply with international law,
which must mean being proportionate, and to protect innocent
lives?
Mr Mitchell
The hon. Member is right. At the COP, the Prime Minister was able
to have meetings with Qatar, Egypt and Jordan, as well as
with Israel and he
reiterated the point that he has made publicly before, which is
that Israel has the right to
self-defence, but it must operate within international
humanitarian law.
The Minister talks about the need for a two-state solution, and
we will not find much disagreement on that, but how can he
advocate a two-state solution when the Government refuse to
recognise the state of Palestine? Is he confident that there will
be much left of Palestine after Israel’s continued bombardment?
That is why we need a ceasefire right now.
Mr Mitchell
The Government strongly support the two-state solution. Of
course, before these terrible events on 7 October, there were new
partnerships with Israel developing
across the middle east: one thinks in particular of the Emirates
and Bahrain. When there is a break in the clouds and an
opportunity for a political track to get going, we will do
everything we can to build on the important point that the hon.
Member underlined.
Notwithstanding the attempted genocide of 7 October and the
cynical use of Palestinian civilians as human shields, the single
best solution for peace in the region is a two-state solution.
What steps are the Government taking to facilitate that? Does my
right hon. Friend agree that the kidnappers, murderers and
rapists of Hamas cannot be involved in those negotiations?
Mr Mitchell
Yes. We certainly agree with the United States that Gaza should
be under Palestinian control in due course and that there is no
place for Hamas in all of that. In respect of my hon. Friend’s
point about how we advance towards a two-state solution, he will
know that the Foreign Secretary has been both in Tel Aviv and on
the west bank in Ramallah, and we are looking to see what Britain
can do to help build the capacity of the Palestinian state in the
future, and to bolster it.
The Minister will have access to intelligence—ours and that of
our allies—that he may not be in a position to share with the
House. Will he therefore share his understanding of the
effectiveness of Israel’s campaign to weaken and eliminate Hamas
and return the hostages, given the appalling and unacceptable
loss of innocent Palestinian life—thousands and thousands of
children have been maimed and killed—given the catastrophic
humanitarian situation in Gaza, given that more than 100 Israeli
hostages remain in captivity there, and given that Hamas
continues to fire rockets into Israel every
day?
Mr Mitchell
We are doing everything we can to help the hostages to whom she
referred and to ensure that they come home. We do that through
negotiations, not least in Qatar, and through the overflights,
which I referred to earlier. The hon. Lady may rest assured that
the Government take precisely the same view as her on what should
be achieved.
Release of
Hostages
(Harrow East) (Con)
18. What steps he is taking to help secure the release of
hostages held by Hamas.(900606)
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office ( )
We are working with international and regional partners to secure
the release of hostages, including British nationals.
I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. The hostages who
have been released report sexual and physical violence committed
against them while in captivity. The Israeli Health Ministry
reports that hostages were drugged to make them look happy. Does
my right hon. Friend agree that Hamas are treating hostages in an
inhumane fashion, the international Red Cross should be given the
opportunity to visit them all, and we should ensure that they are
returned home as soon as possible?
Mr Mitchell
My hon. Friend is quite right about the rights of the
international Red Cross. We are involved in intensive diplomatic
efforts to secure the release of the hostages. It is continually
raised by the Prime Minister, who met families of British people
taken hostage by Hamas and of other hostages during his trip
to Israel My hon. Friend
may rest assured that while I cannot give a running commentary on
these matters, we are doing everything we can to secure their
release.
(Oldham East and
Saddleworth) (Lab)
I wholeheartedly support the calls for the immediate and
unconditional release of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas
and other groups. However, further to the Minister’s response to
my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mrs Lewell-Buck), I
refer him to UN resolution 1860 of 2009, when the UK supported a
ceasefire in Gaza and a permanent ceasefire followed a few days
later.
Mr Mitchell
The hon. Lady will be well aware of the view of the Government
and, indeed, of the Opposition Front Bench, on the possibility of
a ceasefire at this time, which we simply do not think exists. On
the earlier events that she refers to, the situation then was
very different from the one that pertains today.
(Esher and Walton) (Con)
On the issue of hostage taking, the British-Russian dual national
Vladimir Kara-Murza was jailed and poisoned by the Putin regime
for criticising the war in Ukraine. He is a de facto hostage of
the regime. I have just met his mother, who is in Parliament
today. Will the Minister arrange for me to meet the Foreign
Secretary with his relatives to hear about the conditions and
torture he has been subject to?
Mr Mitchell
I am advised that Ministers have met the family, but I will see
what I can do to facilitate a meeting, as my right hon. Friend
requests.
Mr (East Londonderry)
(DUP)
Small numbers of hostages have been released in the past as a
result of pauses in the response by the Israeli authorities. Will
the Minister undertake to ensure that there is wider
understanding, both here and internationally, that those pauses
are best activated whenever Hamas does not take advantage of them
and again embed themselves in hospitals and civilian
populations?
Mr Mitchell
The hon. Gentleman is right to emphasise the importance of
humanitarian pauses, and preferably humanitarian pauses that are
several days long. We are doing everything we can to try to
ensure that the case for humanitarian pauses, and the ability
that would result of getting aid, support and supplies into Gaza,
is achieved.
Topical
Questions
(Belfast South) (SDLP)
T5. The horrifying death toll in Gaza includes more than 100 aid
workers and some 70 journalists. The vast majority of media
casualties have been Palestinian journalists who went on working
in the face of airstrikes and the deteriorating humanitarian
situation as a result of the lack of information caused by the
denial of access to international media. The National Union of
Journalists warns of systemic targeting of journalists in
Palestine, a further breach of international law. How will the
Minister impress on the Israeli Government these specific
obligations?(900618)
Mr Mitchell
As I said earlier, we do stress the importance of abiding by the
rules of war. I pay tribute to the brave humanitarian workers who
put themselves in harm’s way, unarmed, to help their fellow
citizens.
(East Lothian) (Alba)
T9. It is not just citizens of the United Kingdom but the
Government of Cyprus who are being denied information as to what
the US military may be flying from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus
to Israel Is that not
something that they should know about, given the risks, and is it
not something that we should know about, given the
complicity?(900623)
When it comes to Cyprus we have been working closely with our
allies attending to the need for security, which may pertain to
the release of hostages, so I think this is entirely a good
thing.
(Vauxhall)
(Lab/Co-op)
Last week I was contacted by Kennington Bethlehem Link, a
voluntary group dedicated to working with Israelis and
Palestinians. It raised the case of Anas Abu Srour, who was
arrested by the Israeli army. This week it was announced that he
had been detained for six months in administrative detention, and
the reason for his arrest is still unclear. A petition of support
has been signed by over 6,000 people in nine days, so will the
Minister please ask the Foreign Secretary to work urgently with
his Israeli counterpart so that we can find out why he was
imprisoned?
Mr Mitchell
If the hon. Lady will make available to me the full details of
that case—assuming that she has not already told the Foreign
Office—I will look into it for her and ensure she gets an answer.
Westminster Hall debate
on Arms Export Licences: Israel
Arms Export Licences: Israel
Lords repeat of Commons
Urgent Question on Israel-Hamas War: Diplomacy
The following Answer to an Urgent Question was given in the House
of Commons on Monday 11 December.
“I thank the right honourable Gentleman for his Question. The
Government are undertaking extensive and global diplomatic
engagement to get much greater aid into Gaza, support British
nationals and the safe return of hostages, and prevent dangerous
regional escalation. Days after Hamas’s brutal attack, the then
Foreign Secretary was in Israel to see for
himself the devastation wrought by this heinous act of terrorism,
and his successor visited in late November to continue dialogue
with Israeli leaders. Last week the Prime Minister discussed the
latest efforts to free hostages with Prime Minister Netanyahu,
and stressed the need to take greater care to protect civilians
in Gaza. Two days later, the Foreign Secretary discussed the
future of the Middle East peace process with the US Secretary of
State in Washington.
The situation in Gaza cannot continue, and we are deploying all
our diplomatic resources, including in the United Nations, to
help to find a viable solution. The scale of civilian deaths and
displacement in Gaza is shocking. Although Israel has the right to
defend itself against terror, restore its security and bring the
hostages home, it must abide by international law and take all
possible measures to protect civilians. We have called for
further and longer humanitarian pauses. It is imperative that we
increase the flow of aid into Gaza, but as we have said at the
UN, calling for a ceasefire ignores the fact that Hamas has
committed acts of terror and continues to hold civilian
hostages.
We remain committed to making progress towards a two-state
solution. Britain’s long-standing position on the Middle East
peace process is clear: we support a negotiated settlement
leading to a safe and secure Israel living
alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state”.
3.46pm
(Lab)
My Lords, we are all agreed: a cessation of hostilities to give
space and time to get food, water, electricity and medicine into
Gaza is essential. Although Israel has the
right to defend itself against terror and bring back the
hostages, it must act within international and humanitarian law.
said yesterday:
“We continue to identify and look for mechanisms for ensuring
that there can be no impunity”.—[Official Report, Commons,
11/12/23; cols. 618-19.]
Does the Minister recognise that the International Criminal Court
has jurisdiction to address the conduct of all parties in Gaza?
As he knows, I have asked before about whether the Government
will match the US and impose travel bans on illegal settlers
involved in attacks, serious criminal activity and fostering
hatred in the West Bank. also said yesterday that
the UK was
“seeking that those responsible should be not just arrested but
prosecuted and punished”.—[Official Report, Commons, 11/12/23;
col. 614.]
Did the noble Lord, , discuss travel bans with his
US counterparts last week? When can we anticipate an announcement
that we will follow suit?
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office () (Con)
My Lords, on the noble Lord’s second question, my noble friend
was in Washington and, as I
said last week, there were discussions on a wide range of issues
including the situation in the Middle East. The noble Lord will
know that I cannot speculate at this time, but I assure him that
we are fully seized of the actions the US has taken and are
reflecting on what further actions we can take on settler
violence. Again, we are very much at one on this. The
Government’s position and the Opposition’s is that settler
violence must be stopped, but as my noble friend the Foreign
Secretary said when he visited Israel and the
OPTs, it is not just about stopping the violence; it is also
about holding perpetrators to account.
On the issue of the ICC, the UK remains a strong supporter. As a
state party to the Geneva conventions, it is also important
that Israel recognises its
accountability and responsibility. As a democratic Government and
a democratic state, I am sure it will adhere to that. On the
wider issues of humanitarian routes and access, the noble Lord
knows that both my noble friend and I have been fully engaged.
I returned from Doha only last night. One of the key areas we
were focused on is the importance of releasing the hostages and
getting humanitarian relief into Gaza. We welcome the
announcement from Israel on the checking
facility at Kerem Shalom. The UK was the first to raise this and
we hope that we can restore the full operational capacity and
capability of Kerem Shalom to get vital, life-saving aid into
Gaza.
(LD)
My Lords, as the Minister is aware, I too have just returned from
Doha, this lunchtime. During my visit, I met separately with the
Prime Minister, the assistant Foreign Minister and the Minister
of State, as well as the Jordanian Foreign Minister. All those
discussions covered the need for opening up and providing
immediate life-saving humanitarian assistance. From these Benches
we stress our repeated call for an immediate bilateral ceasefire
to stop the air attacks from the Israeli Government, as well as a
period in which all hostages would be returned. That would signal
day one of a much-needed political track. It needs to involve
moderate Israeli leaders, as well as a reconstruction of a
Palestinian entity. What support are the UK Government giving to
that much-needed political track, as part of an enduring
ceasefire?
(Con)
My Lords, we are working extensively on those very points. As I
have said before, as friends and allies of Israel we understand
its security issues—but, equally, people within Israel and in the wider
region understand that for the medium and long term this means
security, justice and stability for Israelis and Palestinians
alike. We are very much engaged on a range of diplomatic tracks.
Together with my noble friend the Foreign Secretary, we have been
engaging directly in the region; the Prime Minister has also
visited a number of times. This week we will have some inward
visits from Ministers within the region. What really needs to
happen is what we have talked about before: a revitalised contact
route that ensures we understand the current realities on the
ground. Both Israel and the
Palestinian leadership need to be part of that.
I further assure the noble Lord, on the diplomatic track and
ensuring some sustainable agreements, that we welcome—as all
noble Lords did—what happened in the pause. That cessation
allowed for hostages to be returned. I also agree with him that
the release of the hostages is the vital first step to ensuring
that we see lasting and sustainable peace in the Middle East.
(Con)
My Lords, should Hamas release all the hostages and lay down its
weapons, and should the terrorists who perpetrated the appalling
atrocities on 7 October flee to the Gulf to live in luxury hotels
with their leaders, would there not be an immediate ceasefire?
Peace might be able to come. We could then decide some long-term
political future for the Palestinians and the Israelis.
(Con)
My Lords, I agree with my noble friend that as a first step, as I
have said, the hostages must be released. It is a no-brainer, as
far as I am concerned. Those people were taken, so that will be a
vital first step. The other issue to recognise is that we have
proscribed Hamas as a terrorist group. It is for Hamas to choose
its pathway. Does it want to put down weapons and talk peace?
Then say so and put that offer on the table. I alluded earlier to
being in Qatar. We are seized of ensuring that, in every country,
we deliver the vital messages to those who have influence over
Hamas. Given the priority of releasing the hostages and bringing
a cessation to the violence we are seeing, Hamas needs to lay
down its weapons and say that it no longer wishes to continue to
attack Israeli interests.
(CB)
My Lords, does the Minister accept that following the widespread
breaches of human rights by both Israel and
Palestine over quite a period, it has now become urgent for the
international community to bring pressure to bear on them both to
replace their leaders with those who genuinely respect the human
rights of both communities? Only with such leaders on both
sides—it will not do if it is simply on one side
—will Israel and Palestine
have hope to live in peace in the future.
(Con)
My Lords, I am sure the noble Baroness agrees that it is for
Israelis and Palestinians to choose who leads them, but I agree
with the sentiments that she expresses. It is important that we
have people who recognise, as difficult as peace is, how a
sustainable peace can be possible. That is why we have committed
ourselves to revitalising and energising the peace process that
leads to the delivery, in practical terms, of the two-state
solution—not just one in which Israel and a
Palestinian state live side by side in peace and security but one
in which there is a recognition that real strength comes from the
inter- dependency of people and communities.
(Lab)
My Lords, have the Government considered, in conjunction with our
friends, sending hospital ships to the region to provide
emergency medical help to people in Gaza who are not getting it
in their own hospitals?
(Con)
My Lords, the noble Lord is right to raise that. Our discussions
with key Gulf partners and directly with Israel are about
opening land routes, which are the most effective routes. That is
why I alluded earlier, in response to the noble Lord, Lord
Collins, to Kerem Shalom. These are six lanes instead of the one
lane from Rafah, and we will continue to implore that. I assure
the noble Lord that we are looking at all routes, including
maritime routes, to provide support and aid into Gaza. We also
recognise that where we can provide support we should, whether
through supporting countries that have field hospitals in Gaza or
through a specific idea that the French have had and that we are
exploring, involving vessels that we have currently deployed for
humanitarian support and the flexibility to provide support in
the way the noble Lord suggests.
The Lord
My Lords, this tragic situation is also caught up in the
complexity of the religious faiths of the region. In what way are
faith leaders involved in the diplomatic conversations to seek to
bring peace?
(Con)
My Lords, to me that is fundamental. There is a unifying factor,
which from the Muslim perspective was the prophet Abraham, and we
all recognise that. Faith leaders have an important role: they
can bring people together as an important part of track 2
diplomacy. I am engaging directly with faith leaders because I
believe to my core that faith is about bringing people together,
not dividing us.
(Con)
My Lords, I draw attention to my entry in the register of
interests, particularly my interests relating to friendship
with Israel Was my noble
friend as shocked as I was this morning to see videos of
much-needed aid going into Gaza being hijacked at gunpoint by
Hamas in front of Palestinian citizens? Given this callous
disregard for the interests of Palestinians within Gaza, has my
noble friend received any indication from the bloodstained,
child-murdering rapists of the terrorist group Hamas that they
have even the slightest interest in abiding by any diplomatic
initiative?
(Con)
My Lords, I have not seen those specific videos but I have seen
earlier videos about the atrocities and the abhorrent attacks of
Hamas. I have already said that we regard Hamas as a proscribed
group. It has shown by its actions, and continues to demonstrate,
that the welfare of the people of Gaza—the Palestinians and the
civilians who are suffering—is not a priority for it. We want to
see unhindered access, which is why we are working
with Israel and other key
partners, including Egypt, to ensure that can happen. We are also
working with key partners that have influence over Hamas because
it is important to ensure that there is a reality check. This
will not stop until it does the right thing. There are the wider
issues of the Middle East peace process, which we are also
working on, but as a first step it must release the hostages. Let
us have a cessation of hostilities. We want to allow unhindered
access for aid to reach the most vulnerable, and that is needed
now.
