Foreign Secretary's statement on Lebanon - Jul 30

With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the situation in Lebanon.

On 27 July, Hizballah launched a series of rockets into northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.

Tragically, in Majdal Shams, one strike killed at least twelve civilians. Young people, one just ten years old, who were playing football.

I extend my deepest sympathies to their families and to the Druze community as they grieve for their loved ones.

The Government is unequivocal in condemning this horrific attack and calling on Hizballah to cease their rocket strikes.

This atrocity is a consequence of indiscriminate firing, paying no heed at all to civilians.

This attack is part of an intensifying pattern of fighting around the Israeli-Lebanese border.

For months now, we have been teetering on the brink.

The risk of further escalation and regional destabilisation is now more acute than ever.

At the end of my first week in office, I spoke to Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati.

And yesterday, I called him again to express my concern at this latest incident.

I have also visited Israel, and discussed the situation with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Katz.

And I will visit Lebanon as soon as the security circumstances allow.
We support Israel's right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law.

As I have said before, they are in a tough neighbourhood, threatened by those who want it annihilated.

Over forty, including twenty-four civilians, have now been killed by Hizballah strikes in northern Israel and the Golan Heights.

And tens of thousands of Israelis have been displaced from the area.

While in Lebanon, over one hundred civilians have died, and almost one hundred thousand are displaced.

A widening of this conflict is in nobody's interest.

Indeed, the consequences could be catastrophic.

That is why we continue to press for a diplomatic solution.

Based on UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which called for a long-term solution based on the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, no foreign forces in Lebanon without its government's consent and no armed forces other than the UN and Lebanese government troops deployed south of the Litani river near the border with Israel.

It is why – even in the face of serious provocation – our counsel is restraint.

We welcome the Lebanese government's statement condemning violence against civilians and urging the cessation of all violence.

We continue to support the Lebanese Armed Forces – the UK has provided training and equipment to four of its Land Border Regiments.

And we are working intensively with the United Nations and our partners, including the United States and France, to encourage de-escalation.

British nationals

Mr Speaker, with our partners, we will do all we can to prevent the outbreak of full-scale conflict.

But the risk is rising.
I therefore want to underline the Government's advice to British nationals.

We advise against all travel to the north of Israel and the north of the Golan Heights, and against all travel to Lebanon.

There are frequent artillery exchanges and airstrikes.

Tensions are high and the situation could deteriorate rapidly.

My Right Honourable Friend, the Prime Minister, chaired a COBRA meeting this morning.

And I am working with Foreign Office Consular teams to make sure we are prepared for all scenarios.

But if this conflict escalates, the Government cannot guarantee we will be able to evacuate everyone immediately.

You may be forced to shelter in place.

History teaches us that, in a crisis like this one, it is far safer to leave while commercial flights are still running.

Rather than running the risk of becoming trapped in a warzone.

My message to British nationals in Lebanon is therefore, quite simply:

Leave.

Madam Deputy Speaker, the tensions on the Israeli-Lebanese border are one aspect of the wider crisis in the Middle East.

Across the region, we see evidence of malign Iranian activity.

In their support for Hizballah, Hamas, the Houthis and other groups whose actions destabilise the region.

And who show scant regard for the death and destruction this causes.

This Government is committed to working alongside our partners to counter Iranian threats. Meanwhile, in Gaza, fighting continues.

The scenes at the Khadija school – civilians killed, shocking images of injured children underline the desperate conditions endured by civilians.

And reports of the humanitarian situation remain sobering, with the threat of disease and famine looming ever larger.

This Government continues to do all it can to provide relief to Palestinian civilians.

I recently announced new funding for field hospitals run by UK-Med – who have treated more than 60,000 Gazans since the conflict began.

And we have restored funding to UNRWA, providing £21 million in new funds to the only agency able to deliver aid at the scale needed.

But what is urgently needed is an immediate ceasefire. All the hostages must be freed.
The fighting must end.
And much, much more aid must get into Gaza.

A ceasefire would not only alleviate the suffering in Gaza and secure the hostages' release.

It would also reduce tensions across the region, helping to prevent an escalatory cycle in Lebanon.

And offer hope of a renewed peace process between Israelis and Palestinians.

As I said to the House in my first appearance as Foreign Secretary before this despatch box, we are committed to playing a full diplomatic role in the efforts to secure a just and lasting peace.

Our overarching goal is clear: a viable and sovereign Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.

Madam Deputy Speaker, we do not want to see more civilians killed. More innocent lives cut down.
But the risks are clear.
We are urging de-escalation of the current crisis.

While ensuring we are prepared if diplomatic efforts do not succeed – with a clear call today for all British nationals in Lebanon to leave immediately.

I commend this statement to the House.