Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
Main Page: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)(2 weeks, 2 days ago)
Lords ChamberTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry report published on 16 September, which found that Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza against Palestinians, and what action they are taking in response.
My Lords, the Government’s long-standing position remains that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred should be made following a judgment by a competent national or international court. However, officials are carefully considering this report, and it will be taken into account in the regular assessments made by the Government of the compliance with international law by Israel in Gaza. We have been extremely clear that what is happening in Gaza is appalling. We continue to call on Israel to change course immediately by halting its ground offensive and letting a surge of humanitarian aid in without delay.
My Lords, I thank my noble friend the Minister for her Answer and the indication that the Government are carefully considering the report from the United Nations which was published earlier this week. In that light, can my noble friend the Minister outline what steps the Government have taken and will take pursuant to Article 1 of the 1948 genocide convention and in compliance with the binding provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice on 26 January 2024 and 24 May 2024 to ensure that the slaughter of people and devastation of communities in Gaza are stopped?
We respect and will always continue to adhere to the convention that the noble Baroness refers to, but it will remain the Government’s position—I genuinely think that this is right—that we do not ascribe genocide; it is for a competent court to do that. That is the right way to tackle these issues. By calling this genocide, we do not save a single life, feed a single child or restore medical services to a single community. It is important—it really matters—that the attribution of genocide is made by a competent court. That will remain this Government’s position, and it has been the very long-standing position of the United Kingdom Government.