Contributions
1,916 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyThe hon. Lady makes an important point about the critical need to get support into Gaza. Yesterday, 100 trucks got through, and 300,000 litres of fuel got through during 9 and 10…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyMy hon. Friend expresses the balance very clearly and very well, particularly in the first part of his question. The important point, which Britain makes continually to Israel, is…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyMy hon. Friend is absolutely right to emphasise that the economic reconstruction and rebuilding of Gaza will be an essential element in any political settlement. More widely, as I…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyI understand the right hon. Lady’s strength of feeling, but she does no service to Members on either Front Bench, who have made it clear that the reasons why a ceasefire would not…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyMy hon. Friend is absolutely right to focus on the terrible plight of the hostages. I cannot give the House a running commentary on what is happening in respect of the hostages,…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyI have a great deal of sympathy with the points that the hon. Lady makes. The British Government have made it clear that all parties in this terrible conflict must abide by…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyDiscussions with Qatari go on all the time. Indeed, my noble Friend Lord Ahmad, the Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for the middle east, has been in Qatar recently.11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyIt is, I think, the policy of both sides of the House that we should not pursue the possibility of a ceasefire, because there is no possibility, for very trenchant reasons that…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyMy right hon. Friend will know that the Government have been clear that measures need to be taken, and we have used our own military assets in this respect, to make sure that the…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyThe Government have always made it absolutely clear that the settlements are illegal under international law, and we will continue to make that case as forcefully as we think…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyYes, I share that concern very much, as do the Government.11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyI think the hon. Gentleman would receive the same response from those on his own Front Bench as he will receive from me. As I have already said to the House, a ceasefire is simply…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyI have no doubt that it is possible to degrade and stop the military machine that wrought the terrible disaster on 7 October. When addressing an ideology, however, it is extremely…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyI will, of course, be very pleased to meet the hon. Lady. We have previously discussed the contents of the Bill in another situation, but I will be very pleased to meet her. We…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyI agree very much with the hon. Lady about the importance of securing a humanitarian pause. That is exactly what we are doing; she will be pleased, like me, to hear that the…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyI thank my right hon. Friend for his kind personal remarks. Truth is often the first casualty in war, and none of the figures that we are hearing can be relied upon.11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyAgain, I recognise the integrity with which the hon. Gentleman speaks. I can tell him that, no, the Israeli Government never target civilians, but they are pursuing a strategy of…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyI do not believe it is Israel’s intention to raze Gaza to the ground. Israel’s intention is to ensure that Hamas terrorists can never inflict on the state of Israel the appalling…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. We have made it clear that Israel has every right to defend itself, but that it must abide by international humanitarian law and the laws…11 Dec 2023HANSARDIsrael-Hamas War: DiplomacyI recognise the passion with which the hon. Lady speaks, but I have explained in some detail why the Government felt it was not possible to support the resolution. We did not…11 Dec 2023