Gaza: UK Assessment

Alistair Carmichael Excerpts
Wednesday 14th May 2025

(2 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Falconer
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My right hon. Friend raises incredibly important points about journalists and I am happy to take up the case in question. Not just journalists but a whole set of people are afforded special protections under international law, including medical professionals and aid workers, many of whom we have seen involved in terrible incidents in Gaza. We have been pressing for accountability and justice on those questions; I think in particular of the three British nationals killed in the World Central Kitchen incident more than a year ago, for whom we are still waiting for justice.

Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)
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Does the Minister accept that, where prima facie evidence of genocide exists, awaiting for the determination to be made formally by a court is not sufficient for us to meet the duty to prevent under the genocide convention?

Hamish Falconer Portrait Mr Falconer
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In this case, the International Court of Justice is clearly the correct authority. It has issued a set of provisional measures, which we support.