Contributions
1,541 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesWe have condemned Hamas. I have condemned Hamas repeatedly, and we will continue to do so. A ceasefire clearly requires two parties. We welcomed Israel’s return to the ceasefire…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI recognise that when we talk in this Chamber about aid restrictions, it can seem like an abstract concept. My hon. Friend is right about what that looks like, person to person.…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesAs this House has heard from me before, the question that we assessed in relation to international humanitarian law was whether there a real risk of a breach of IHL. That was the…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI just want to acknowledge for my hon. Friend that we recognise that this conflict is being measured in hours and days, not weeks and months, and it is on those timelines that we…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesThe right hon. Member will appreciate that in our private discussions with Israel we have been clear about the depth of feeling across the whole country, and indeed in this House,…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesOn Sunday I was clear that Hamas should engage in ceasefire talks, should return to the table and should release all hostages. A ceasefire is desperately needed and is the only…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI am surprised that the right hon. Member thinks that there is any question as to why Foreign Office Ministers might need to leave some degree of ambiguity about when they take…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesWe abide by all of our international legal obligations and keep these matters under rapid review. My hon. Friend rightly highlights the risks of malnutrition and famine in Gaza,…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI thank the right hon. Gentleman for the force of his remarks. I hear so many colleagues say that they are fed up with my words, which is gentle, but on 20 May we announced…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI hear the frustration of the House. I am sure that other Members will also raise the deeply distressing reports that there have been in recent days, and indeed going even further…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesWe are clear that, in our view, the United Nations and its partners have a clear mechanism to ensure that humanitarian need is met, and to prevent diversion to Hamas. We obviously…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesThe call for an independent investigation began with the UN Secretary-General, given, as I said earlier, his concerns about aid provision. The UK supports the vital humanitarian…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesThe truth is that while the aid blockade remains in place, there is very little that any outside partner can do to ensure proper health services in Gaza—I will not mislead the…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI make it a habit not to confirm the schedules of my ministerial colleagues. Of course, it is the Minister for Europe—who has responsibility for the overall licensing regime—who…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesLet me first address my hon. Friend’s question about arms more broadly, and then turn to the F-35s. We have taken steps to ensure that weapons directly for use in Gaza have been…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesThe right hon. and learned Member makes a very powerful point. One reason that the traditional positions of UK Government and many other Governments across the world has been that…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI regret to inform the House that there is a fundamental disagreement between the British and Israeli Governments about the nature of aid that needs to get into Gaza. We have…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI hope the right hon. Member will forgive me; he talks of theatrics, whereby I come to the House and provide an update and he delivers a speech saying that we should do more. I…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesThe whole Government, from the Prime Minister down, know the extent of concern. I am not sure that they necessarily watch all these appearances, but do not be under any illusion:…04 Jun 2025HANSARD Israel and the Occupied Palestinian TerritoriesI would like to address the point about F-35s not being used in Ukraine. The importance of the F-35 programme to Ukraine is that the deployment of F-35s allows a redeployment of…04 Jun 2025