Contributions
1,916 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationAlthough it is not the policy of the Government or Opposition Front Benchers to call for a ceasefire, we are calling for comprehensive humanitarian pauses to enable us to reach…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationUNICEF is one of the most highly respected United Nations organisations and agencies. Britain has consistently been one of the most generous and strong supporters of UNICEF,…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationIf another motion comes before the United Nations, Britain will of course look at the terms of that motion and discuss it together with our allies and like-minded countries who,…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationI do not think there is any doubt that, across the House, we care deeply about what is happening there. The hon. Lady asks how we will achieve access for humanitarian aid, and…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationThe hon. and learned Lady is a distinguished lawyer, and she will know that the judgment she is asking the Government to make is not a judgment for Ministers and politicians, but…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationI will not try your patience, Mr Deputy Speaker, by repeating what I have already said. The hon. Lady says that pauses are not enough, but there have not yet been any pauses. That…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationWhile the hon. Lady is eloquent on the effects, she is not so eloquent, in my opinion, on the causes. In respect of the amendment that she has tabled, of course that is a matter…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationThe British role at the United Nations is second to none in trying to stop what is happening in Israel and in Palestine. The point I would make to the hon. Gentleman is that Hamas…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationYes.08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationThe right hon. Gentleman is a very senior member of this House and he knows that I cannot give him a running commentary on hostage negotiations. However, I can confirm to him that…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationThe Government at every level are engaged in those discussions with the state of Israel. The hon. Lady lists a number of humanitarian supplies that need to get through, and…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationWe are very strong supporters of the International Criminal Court, and that has been true under Governments from both the main parties. On the hon. Lady’s important point that we…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationIn response to the hon. Lady’s request for a meeting, she will know that the crisis centre in the Foreign Office, which is full of both willing volunteers and experts in these…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationI thank the hon. Lady very much for her comments and for the priorities she set out in her response. I echo her comment about the brave humanitarian workers who lost their lives.…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationMy hon. Friend makes an extremely good point. Of course we will continue, as he suggests, to prioritise the issue of pauses. He will know that, in my statement, I condemned…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationAgain, I am not sure that I can add to the very comprehensive and full answer that I have already given the House on that point, but let me make clear that it is not the policy of…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments—he always speaks for the House on humanitarian matters. More than 150 British nationals have now come out, and all our country-based…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationThe hon. Lady rightly draws a distinction between getting humanitarian supplies into Gaza and being able to distribute them safely. These are very challenging circumstances, for…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationThe right hon. Lady describes an extremely difficult situation, one that has been ventilated in the press, where we have seen that women are having to give birth in the most…08 Nov 2023HANSARD Occupied Palestinian Territories: Humanitarian SituationBecause we are strongly supportive of Israel’s right to self-defence—we have been absolutely clear about that throughout these dreadful circumstances, as have the Opposition—we…08 Nov 2023