Contributions
1,916 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIsrael and GazaThe point we have always made is that we do not think it is helpful for the Court to intervene in that way at this point, because the main purpose is to get the hostages out and…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaThe hon. and learned Lady is an immensely distinguished advocate and lawyer. She will have read the letter signed by no fewer than 600 lawyers that broadly agrees with what she…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaThe hon. Gentleman is premature in seeking to ask the Government to exercise any such judgment. As I said earlier in this statement, now is not the time to make these decisions.…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaWe do think that Israel must do more on deconfliction, but the hon. Gentleman is right that the use of Israeli lawyers in targeting and in the planning of military activity—not…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaThe hon. Gentleman will have noticed that today I have been careful to be very clear about our support for the ICC, but equally to urge the House not to rush to judgment in a…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaI am surprised at the hon. Gentleman putting it that way. He is an extremely distinguished lawyer, and I hope he will recognise that the point I am making is that the House is…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaI simply do not recognise the hon. Gentleman’s description of what the British Government are doing. The British Government are absolutely consistent: we always act in accordance…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaBritain was able, through some skilful and deft diplomacy, to get everyone onside on the United Nations resolution that was recently passed, which talked about a sustainable…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaOf course. What I can confirm is that the British Government will always act in accordance with the law.20 May 2024HANSARD UkraineMy right hon. Friend speaks with knowledge and authority on this matter. He will know that the imposition of sanctions is a complex matter, that we have to continually ensure that…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaI am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s condemnation, over many years, of Hamas. He has repeated what I have said to other Members of the House this afternoon and, if I have…20 May 2024HANSARD UkraineI hope the hon. Lady will forgive me if I do not give those details across the Floor of the House, but at such point as it would be helpful and we are able to do so, I will…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaOf course. We are appalled by the scale of the death and destruction that has taken place, and what we say about protecting journalists—which this House has always championed,…20 May 2024HANSARD UkraineI refer the right hon. Gentleman to my answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis). This is a highly complex area and it must always be…20 May 2024HANSARD UkraineMy hon. Friend makes an important point, and he may rest assured that British military advice in that respect, and on much else, is not lacking. I was saying that, in regard to…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaThe hon. Lady is correct that about 800,000 people have now left Rafah. Through the pier, we managed over the weekend to get in 8,000 shelter kits, enough for around 40,000…20 May 2024HANSARD UkraineYes, and I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend’s constituents for the work that he described. Again, if he bears with me, I will be able to come directly to the point that he…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaTo respond to the hon. Gentleman’s last point, that is absolutely not the case: Ministers take legal advice, including on international humanitarian law, and act within it. We…20 May 2024HANSARDIsrael and GazaThe Government operate through other agencies as well as UNRWA. We have been very close indeed to the World Food Programme, through which an enormous amount of humanitarian aid is…20 May 2024HANSARD UkraineI say to the hon. Gentleman, for whom I have a very high regard, that when I have finished my speech I hope he will be reassured specifically on that point.20 May 2024