Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of the economic crisis in Lebanon on (a) poverty rates, and (b) access to healthcare for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Lebanon faces a severe economic and political crisis, a result of the failure of Lebanon's political elites to form a government and deliver much-needed and long-promised reforms, exacerbated by the public health crisis caused by COVID-19 and the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion of August 2020. This crisis has had a severe impact on healthcare provision and poverty rates in the country, for both Lebanese citizens and the most vulnerable refugee populations. The UK and members of the International Support Group for Lebanon are clear that Lebanon's leaders need to form a capable government and implement a credible reform process as the only sustainable way to address this crisis.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will (a) raise with his Israeli counterpart the death of 15-year-old Ahmad Zahi Ibrahim Bani-Shamsa on 16 June 2021 and (b) seek assurance that there will be a criminal investigation into his death.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK is aware of the reports surrounding the death of Ahmad Zahi Ibrahim Bani-Shamsa. We urge the Government of Israel to conduct a swift and transparent investigation. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire. We remain concerned by the number of Palestinians, including children, killed in the West Bank and Gaza.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will call on the Government of Israel to investigate the firing of two missiles at a two-storey home in Gaza City’s Al-Manara neighbourhood on 11 May 2021.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Israel has a legitimate right to self-defence, and the right to defend its citizens from attack. In doing so, it is vital that all actions are proportionate, in line with International Humanitarian Law, and make every effort to avoid civilian casualties. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will call for Israel to investigate the firing of a missile by an Israeli warplane on 12 May 2021.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
Israel has a legitimate right to self-defence, and the right to defend its citizens from attack. In doing so, it is vital that all actions are proportionate, in line with International Humanitarian Law, and make every effort to avoid civilian casualties. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of advising UK businesses against trading with illegal settlements as a disincentive to Israeli settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK’s position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace, and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution.
The UK and Israel have a strong and important trading relationship and we are firmly opposed to boycotts or sanctions. But we do not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the settlements, as part of Israel.
We urge Israel to halt settlement expansion immediately.
Ultimately it will be the decision of an individual or company whether to operate in settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, but the British Government would neither encourage nor offer support to such activity.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of the recent reported Israeli military offensive on healthcare (a) workers and (b) infrastructure in Gaza.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza on 20 May, which is an important step to ending the cycle of violence and loss of civilian life. The UK priority now is ensuring timely humanitarian access into and out of Gaza, including for essential health services. We are urging the Government of Israel to ensure this access is maintained. We have made clear our concern about the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza, including significant damage and destruction of civilian infrastructure including homes, schools, hospitals, and clinics.
The United Kingdom is also providing an initial £3.2 million of UK aid to UNRWA's emergency flash appeal, which launched on 19 May 2021. This appeal will address the immediate humanitarian needs of vulnerable Palestinians living in Gaza.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterparts on the reported use of force by that country's security forces against Palestinian demonstrators.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK continues to urge the Israeli Government to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of peaceful, legal protestors.
In instances where there have been accusations of excessive use of force, we continue to urge Israel to ensure that its investigations are transparent, swift and comprehensive. We also continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the (a) number and (b) type of violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 involving cross-border firing of weapons and (ii) incursions by (A) land and (B) air in each of the last 12 months.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UN's latest Report on the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 for the period 17 June to 20 October 2020 provides a comprehensive assessment of violations in this period, including air and land violations. https://unifil.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/s_2020_1110_e.pdf
The UK condemns all violations of UN Security Council Resolutions 1509 and 1701, and calls for all sides to adhere to the relevant resolutions. We welcome the efforts made by United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to mediate between parties and decrease tensions.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to end demolitions of Palestinian homes and structures and prevent forcible transfer of Palestinian communities, such as the Bedouin village of Humsa-Al Bqai’a in Area C of the West Bank.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK urged the Government of Israel to end demolitions of property in the West Bank at the UN Security council on 25 February 2021. On the same day, The British Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised ongoing demolitions with the Israeli Authorities in a meeting alongside like-minded partners. I [Minister Cleverly] publicly called on Israel to stop demolitions on 5 February 2021. Officials from the British Consulate General Jerusalem make regular visits to areas at risk of demolition, and visited Humsa Al-Baqai'a on 6 November 2020 to reiterate UK support for the community.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take in response to Israeli demolitions of Palestinian infrastructure and continued settlement expansion in the West Bank by Israel.
Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary
The UK urged the Government of Israel to end demolitions of property in the West Bank at the UN Security council on 25 February 2021. On the same day, The British Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised ongoing demolitions with the Israeli Authorities in a meeting alongside like-minded partners. I publicly called on Israel to stop demolitions on 5 February 2021. Officials from the British Consulate General Jerusalem make regular visits to areas at risk of demolition, and visited Humsa Al-Baqai'a on 6 November 2020 to reiterate UK support for the community.