Contributions
2,005 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Middle EastI can reassure my hon. Friend that I spoke to the UN about this last week. We are working with the UN, and I was pleased that the World Food Programme was able to get some extra…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastI cannot agree with what the right hon. Gentleman has said, save for his remarks that the hostages must be released.21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastI recognise the strength of feeling that my hon. Friend conveys to the Chamber. I listed all the things we are doing. I think the most important thing that the UK Government can…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastWe stand with the international community in all our efforts. In terms of what comes next, we support the Arab plan. We are working with Arab partners to improve that plan and to…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastAll action is under review at this time. We are pressing for a ceasefire, and our assessment is that we could see one shortly after the Knesset rises. My hon. Friend will…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastWe have to bring about that ceasefire, and we have to do all we can to alleviate the suffering. That is what I set out in my statement today, but I remain as frustrated as my hon.…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastIn some senses, that is in the hands of those who continue to prosecute this conflict. My hon. Friend is absolutely right when she says that each life is of incalculable value. I…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastYes, absolutely. I am grateful for all the work that my hon. Friend has done, and his background in medicine helps to bring these issues to public attention.21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastAs my hon. Friend has heard, what we are seeing is inhumane, it is deadly and it is depriving Gazans of human dignity. As she would expect, the Government, working with our…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastYes to that last bit. I want to see a ceasefire in the coming days, but of course we continue to consider what further steps we can take with allies to bring the war to an end, as…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastThe hon. Gentleman would struggle to point to any Government of a major G7 or European state that have done as much as we have in office. We led the sanctioning of Smotrich and…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastMy hon. Friend prays in aid the law in terms of plausibility in breach of international humanitarian law. If he looks at my statement back in September, he will see that I…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastI reassure the right hon. Gentleman that I have made representations to Secretary of State Rubio about my concerns with the aid system. I have done that alongside many European…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastAgain, I understand my hon. Friend’s strength of feeling. She knows that there will be a two-state conference on 28 July, and of course we will participate. But she will have also…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastI thank my hon. Friend for her strength of feeling and for campaigning on and championing this issue in her constituency, but I remind her that we are supporting many groups that…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastI will speak to my South African counterpart about that issue. However, I say to the right hon. Gentleman that we in the UK support the ICC—indeed, it receives funding from…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastI refer the right hon. Gentleman to the statement I made back in September and the addendum to that statement, which set out the basis on which I have judged that there was a…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastMy hon. Friend will have heard the statement that I made today on the extra steps that we are taking in terms of humanitarian aid. He will have seen the statement, made by 31…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastWe are working particularly with Arab partners on this issue. Hamas have to exit—they have to step away from the governance of Gaza. My hon. Friend is right: we cannot have a…21 Jul 2025HANSARD Middle EastI have to tell him that it demeans his argument when he personalises it in the way that he does. It is unbecoming, and not something the House expects, particularly of its more…21 Jul 2025