Gaza and Hamas

Baroness Chapman of Darlington Excerpts

Monday 3rd November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan (Con)]

My Lords, when even Qatar, which plays host to the Hamas leadership, has acknowledged breaches of the ceasefire by Hamas, we know that the situation is getting serious. Taken alongside horrific videos of summary executions of fellow Palestinians, armed fighters patrolling the streets, the killing of several Israeli soldiers and the looting of aid convoys, it is clear that Hamas is determined to continue in a governance role in Gaza, despite the promises it made in the peace agreement. Can the Minister say what discussions the Government have had with Arab and international partners on any multinational peacekeeping force that could restore law and order to Gaza? If that does not happen, I fear that the current uneasy truce will not last very long.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

The noble Lord, Lord Callanan, is right that this is an uneasy truce, but it is a truce all the same. My feeling is that we have to stick with it for as long as we possibly can, notwithstanding the deeply troubling events that he has seen. We all shared the joy and relief at the hostages’ release. We all wish this peace process well and will do everything we possibly can to see it sustained.

[Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD)]

My Lords, with continuing Hamas terrorist violence and the regrettable civilian deaths of Palestinians, it seems that phase 2 of the agreement might now be some way off. Given the terrible devastation in Gaza—which, as I have said in the Chamber before, is 20 times that of the scale of the Blitz in the Second World War, and on an area a quarter the size of London—it beggars belief that the hoped-for 600 trucks a day, as set out in the agreement, are not getting through. The latest reports say that less than 100 are getting through, and $50 million of aid is still waiting to get into Gaza. What practical steps are we in the western community taking? We were all happy to be with President Trump at the signing of the agreement, but it now seems that little action is being taken to get the desperately needed aid to civilians.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

This is a real problem, and we are working to try to persuade the Israelis to allow the opening of as many crossings as possible. We want to see Allenby Bridge and the Rafah crossing reopened. As the noble Lord said, limited aid is getting in through Kerem Shalom, which is causing congestion. There is no shortage of money or aid for Gaza, but there is a real problem with access, registration and dual-use regulations—all things we have been grappling with for too long. There has been some improvement, which we welcome, but we very much want to see the right volumes and type of aid getting to where it is so badly needed.

[Lord Grocott (Lab)]

My Lords, amid all the other things that have been going on in Israel and Palestine in the past few weeks, would my noble friend the Minister like to comment on the vote in the Israeli Parliament—which passed by 71 to 13—to annex the West Bank and incorporate it into the State of Israel? Can she impress on colleagues in Israel that that will make the possibility of a Palestinian state just the opposite—an impossibility? Does she agree that, while it may be possible, although I doubt it, to eliminate Hamas, no one will eliminate the totally legitimate worldwide support for an independent Palestinian state?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We are against the annexation of the West Bank, and we feel, as I suspect my noble friend does, that it would do nothing to secure the safety and future prosperity of the State of Israel. That is one of the reasons why we took the decision, in the time around 25 July, to recognise the state of Palestine.

[Baroness Coussins (CB)]

Can the Minister say what the Government are doing to support the Palestinian Authority in its programme to reform governance procedures, with a view to the PA becoming an electable, credible alternative to Hamas?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

This is an incredibly important piece of work. As the noble Baroness will know, we have been working for some time to strengthen the Palestinian Authority, because as far as I can see, right now it is the only viable alternative to Hamas. We have been doing training, and it is getting direct support from Michael Barber to try to strengthen the possibility of a democratically elected leadership. For now and, as far as we can see, into the future, the Palestinian Authority is really going to be our best bet in terms of finding the right kind of leadership for Palestine.

[The Lord Bishop of Manchester]

My Lords, the last three functioning ICU beds in Gaza are in the Al-Ahli Anglican Hospital. In a time of transition, as we see, I hope, the elimination of Hamas, that will of course get rid of the Hamas-run health ministry. How can we ensure that health services are protected and indeed improved during any transition?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

That speaks to the immediate humanitarian problem of getting aid to the people who need it. It speaks to the system-strengthening work we have been doing with the Palestinians. It speaks to the ability to get medical equipment into Gaza, which we are having difficulty doing, notwithstanding the heroic work of many medics who have worked throughout this war to support people and save many lives; and to the work our NHS has done in enabling some critically unwell young children to be brought to the UK for the treatment that they need.

[Viscount Hailsham (Con)]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that if the ceasefire is to remain in place, it is absolutely essential that the stabilisation force and the transitional authority be put in place with all possible speed? In so far as the Government have influence in these matters, it is to those objects that they should be directing their attention.

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We do have to direct our attention to that and to many other elements. We have a senior military presence within the Civil-Military Coordination Center, and we are supporting it practically, because we will do whatever we can alongside our partners to try to make sure that this ceasefire holds and that we can move on to the next phase.

[Baroness Deech (CB)]

My Lords, is the Minister aware that Hamas is looting humanitarian aid and executing its enemies in the streets of Gaza? These are both contrary to international humanitarian law. The Government have recognised the state of Palestine, which was welcomed by Hamas and has deprived them of any lever to force Hamas to behave properly. From what the Minister has said in the last few minutes, there still does not seem to be a government, fixed boundaries or any elements of a functioning state. How, therefore, can Britain exercise any influence at all?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is right: Hamas is a terrorist organisation, and it should have no part in the future running of Gaza. That is why it is so important that we work alongside the Palestinian Authority and alongside the structures being put in place as part of the 20-point plan to try to make sure that the peace we have, such as it is, can be sustained.

[Baroness Ludford (LD)]

My Lords, the West Bank was mentioned. I speak as a friend of Israel who wants to see a secure and recognised Israel, but in the West Bank we are seeing appalling settler violence and an erratic and inconsistent approach by the IDF. Palestinians are unable, inter alia, to harvest their olives. Are the Government making any representations to the Israeli Government about this issue?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

It is a very important issue. As I am sure the noble Baroness knows, the olive harvest is a particularly dangerous time. I visited the West Bank a few months ago and was able to meet with families who have been displaced many times and forced to rebuild their homes because of settler violence. We deplore this and we have taken steps, including sanctions against some of those who are responsible. As she would wish, we make representations about this at every opportunity.

[Baroness Primarolo (Lab)]

My Lords, notwithstanding the fragility of the ceasefire and every effort the Government are making to support it, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are starving now. What more can the Government do to open up the access routes the Minister has referred to, in order to get more aid in and therefore have a more equitable distribution in Gaza?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is completely right. We have spent almost £100 million already this year on aid for Gaza. The serious frustration we have is our inability to get that aid where it is needed. The Israeli Government control this, and we use every lever we have, alongside our partners. There has been some progress, but clearly not nearly enough. We are hopeful that we will see a change in this very shortly.