Contributions
2,005 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMiddle EastI say to the right hon. Gentleman that the Labour party has always stressed the seriousness of Israel’s security in the toughest of neighbourhoods, because Iran and its proxies…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastHalf a million people in Gaza have received essential healthcare as a result of UK funding, and it was very important to support UK-Med when we came into office. Over 600,000…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastThe right hon. Gentleman brings to bear his tremendous experience of these issues, which has been built up over many years and many different roles in Government and beyond. He is…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastWe hold out that a two-state solution must be the way forward. We believe that normalising relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia is key, and that there must be Palestinian…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastMy hon. Friend has been on this issue day after day; I cannot think of a colleague who has pressed me more on it. She is right to centre the families on both sides and their…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his tone and for raising those issues. He is right about UNRWA. As I have said, this first phase is a critical period, and I believe that…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastWith permission, I will update the House on the deal announced between Israel and Hamas. Last night, US President Biden and Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani confirmed that…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastI agree wholeheartedly with my hon. Friend.16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastEmily Damari is a British national. She spent her 28th birthday in captivity. She was taken from her home in the Kfar Aza kibbutz. Emily enjoys watching football and is a…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastWe are signatories to the treaty of Rome, and we will comply with our legal obligations—not just because we should, but because we believe in them.16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastI am grateful to my hon. Friend for the way she has championed these issues, pressing them again and again, on behalf of her constituents. There is a real dilemma on Palestinian…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman, who is always on top of these issues, particularly terrorism, conflict and peace. I have worked very closely with the US Secretary of State,…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastIt is important to continue to remember the tremendous trauma in Israel as a result of 7 October—the worst atrocity for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. It is important to…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastThis is a moment—I say this having met those hostage families, having prayed for the life of Emily Damari in particular, and having met Palestinians with family in Gaza—where I…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastI, too, met the director of UNRWA in the occupied territories this week. He repeated that to me, and I recognise his assessment. I spoke to the Israeli Government about this…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastI am very grateful to my hon. Friend for the question. The role that we must play is the critical juncture between phase 2 and then phase 3. We will only really get to phase 3 if…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastLet me begin by recognising the unique way in which the right hon. Gentleman has raised these issues in the House over a lifetime of work and his commitment to justice and…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastThe United Kingdom has unique capability and experience in governance issues particularly. We have unique partnerships with not just Israel but the Palestinian Authority and Arab…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastI cannot set out a timetable because the UK Government alone cannot be responsible for a timetable that will necessarily involve the Israeli Government, the Palestinian Authority,…16 Jan 2025HANSARDMiddle EastWe have raised those issues with the Israeli Government, and did so through the Christmas period. We recognise that there is pain, and that there are concerns about international…16 Jan 2025