Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Brian Mathew Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Doughty]

It is a statement full of genuine sorrow and a sense of being appalled at what is happening in Gaza. I say it with sincerity and the Government say it with sincerity. I take issue with my hon. Friend’s suggestion that nothing changes. He has seen in recent weeks that a number of things have changed. We announced our intention to ban the trade. We announced our intention to deal with those expanding illegal settlements. We announced, just today, additional funding to respond to the appalling events at the weekend. I am proud of what this Government are doing to respond, but we need to do more and we need to galvanise others to do more. That is exactly what we are doing in New York today. He knows the steps we have taken already on the suspension and the refusal of arms sales; we have set those out in detail. He also knows of the new double lock in relation to arms sales that the Foreign Secretary announced in relation to the unlawfulness of the occupation.

[Brian Mathew (Melksham and Devizes) (LD)]

The situation in Gaza is intolerable, as is the situation in the west bank. Will the Government consider extending sanctions to Avi Bluth, the IDF general in charge of operations in the west bank, who has been observed by peace activists directing illegal settler militant action against the resident civilian population in Jericho?

[Stephen Doughty]

The hon. Member knows that we do not comment on specific designations or on sanctions in advance. I have heard what he said and hear many other calls for sanctions on those involved in the expansion of settlements and the settler violence and terrorism that we have seen. We have already introduced a number of sanctions on individuals, we are considering other cases, and we will update the House in due course.