Contributions
215 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDInternational DevelopmentHowever, in the camps, where the women and children of foreign fighters are concerned, there are no current plans for new cash programming by DFID . The Secretary of State has…25 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryNo. We maintained the position of abstention because that reaffirmed our position in relation to the nature of the inquiry itself. However, the inquiry produced matters of concern…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryI wish there was a different answer from those that I gave before. As I say, the Human Rights Council procedure can look a bit arcane, in terms of the vote and then the…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryThe hon. Lady is right, and that is what we have sought to do. When I was last in Gaza, I went to one of the hospitals that have been involved and met two of the patients who were…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryThe Government have repeatedly called for an independent and transparent investigation at the highest levels and in multiple forums, including here in Parliament and at the UN…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryThe hon. Gentleman understands the area extremely well. We are not sending a message that that is all closed off. We sent a clear message in relation to an inquiry that could do…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryI understand the hon. Gentleman’s concern and he knows this issue well, but I do not accept that charge. I have made it clear that our reasons for not supporting the inquiry are…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryYes.22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryThe hon. Lady points out one of the major difficulties in the United Kingdom accepting the commission of inquiry as a full commission. All the available evidence from open…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryAs my hon. Friend and other Members know well from their own experience, the tragedy of the area is that the sheer practicalities prevent the sort of inquiry process we would…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryAgain, that is another familiar request. Our position—and my position—has not changed. The right to recognise the state of Palestine is something that can and should be exercised…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryMy hon. Friend is right. Indeed, the commission did refer to those aspects and spoke about the damage done, saying in paragraph 109: “The police force of the de facto authorities…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryI think that the right hon. Gentleman’s observations about the nature of Gaza are entirely fair. They are borne out by my own observations, from my first visits in 2010 and 2011…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryI am sorry that the hon. Lady is ashamed, and I commend her for her extraordinary work in the field, which we have discussed on a number of occasions. The explanation of vote…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryThe short answer to the hon. Gentleman’s question is, yes, of course I was disturbed. Section 6 on protected groups is a large section that goes through the children shot and…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryThe issue of support for medical supplies and the like is completely outside the report. I meet those responsible for the health situation in Gaza; that is why I went to the…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryI have visited Khan al-Ahmar on two separate occasions over a number of years, and we maintain a presence to support those trying to ensure there is a different solution. We have…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryThe hon. Gentleman is right. The individual daily tragedies of Gaza highlighted in this report stem from exactly what he refers to: the failure of those involved—the international…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryThe figures are striking, and they speak on their own. The thousands of injuries and the number of deaths tell a dreadful story, and of course that asymmetry is at the heart of…22 Mar 2019HANSARD Gaza Border Deaths: UNHRC InquiryNo. Of course I stand by the “Explanation of vote” given by colleagues in Geneva, which drew attention to the serious nature of the matters raised by the commission report but…22 Mar 2019