Contributions
1,819 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsMy right hon. Friend is right. We have seen the Houthi, out of Yemen, try to take advantage of the situation and, for the first time in a very long period, we have seen Somali…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsI think that if on 7 October we had projected forward eight weeks and known what we know now, we would have been very concerned about this leading to a widescale regional…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsMy right hon. Friend is an expert on these matters, and he is right: there has to be an international outcome to this, and a solution. I am afraid that in recent decades there has…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsThe hon. Gentleman is right to stress the abominable, disgraceful, disgusting behaviour of Hamas. He calls for a permanent ceasefire; I suggest that that would be a heck of a lot…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsMy hon. Friend will know that we have a number of capabilities for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The Rivet Joint, which he mentioned, has been involved in…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsI have already said that the United Kingdom is bound by, and would always observe, international humanitarian law.05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his questions. I should just say that unarmed but not necessarily unmanned aircraft—initially, the Shadow R1 —are taking on the task of…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsSince Hamas’s horrendous attack on Israel on 7 October, we have increased our military presence in the region. This is to support contingency planning, monitor the evolving…05 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael and GazaSince the terrorist attacks against Israel of 7 October 2023, the UK Government have been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsI can certainly provide an assurance that we will always do whatever we are able to do in the circumstances. During the recent pause, for example, part of the deal was that…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsThe simple answer is that we will always follow international humanitarian law and its requirements. I want to say, with reference to the aid picture on the ground, that one of…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsI certainly will not be pulling my punches when I speak to my Israeli counterparts. The violence in the west bank is unacceptable and it must be controlled—stopped, in fact. None…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsI absolutely join my hon. Friend. They are the most remarkable people, often operating in very difficult circumstances. I am very much looking forward to meeting some of them in…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsThe simple answer is no, and I hope that clears it up. I am surprised to hear the right hon. Gentleman talk just about people being killed. They were murdered. They were…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsMy hon. Friend makes an excellent point that the conflict would be over immediately if hostages were released and Hamas stopped firing rockets into Israel—there would not be a…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsThe hon. Lady will know that the RAF bases in Cyprus are a very useful asset. They are being used, for example, to provide support to our military in the area. To answer her…05 Dec 2023HANSARDMiddle East: UK Military DeploymentsOf course, the single biggest thing that could happen to escalate this conflict would be for it to turn into a regional conflict. I am thinking, in particular, of Hezbollah on the…05 Dec 2023HANSARDDefence Equipment PlanI wish to inform Parliament that the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Defence has written to the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee with our 2023 update on the…04 Dec 2023HANSARDAUKUS Defence PartnershipJust over two years ago, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia launched the ground-breaking new strategic partnership—known as AUKUS. As we have seen over the last…04 Dec 2023HANSARDRAF Aid Flights to the Middle EastDefence assets continue to be ready to supply humanitarian support to the region. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the delivery of aid is impeded by the many challenges around Gaza,…20 Nov 2023