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Written Question
Gaza and Israel: International Law
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the compliance of its instruction to residents of Gaza City to move south with the fourth Geneva Convention.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold International Humanitarian Law, and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately, and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Distinction must be made between civilians and combatants and only direct attacks against suspected combatants and other military objectives are to be made. Both the Prime Minister and the former Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.


Written Question
Gaza and Israel: International Law
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make an assessment of the adequacy of Israel's compliance with the Geneva convention during its operations in Gaza.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold International Humanitarian Law, and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately, and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Distinction must be made between civilians and combatants and only direct attacks against suspected combatants and other military objectives are to be made. Both the Prime Minister and the former Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.


Written Question
Gaza: Drinking Water
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the availability of potable water in Gaza on the risk of fatalities.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The available evidence indicates that immediate action is needed to prevent death and illness from lack of sufficient safe water. According to the United Nations, 50 per cent of water infrastructure has been destroyed or heavily damaged. In response, the UK is calling for sustained, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid including food, water, fuel and medical supplies can reach civilian populations. This includes calling for humanitarian pauses to ensure emergency aid can be distributed and calling for the Kerem Shalom crossing to be opened.

The UK Government has also announced £30 million in humanitarian funding and has already sent more than 51 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding will support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in responding to critical food, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians.


Written Question
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the level of access to water, food and fuel for people in Gaza.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The available evidence indicates that immediate action is needed to prevent death and illness from lack of sufficient safe water. According to the United Nations, 50 per cent of water infrastructure has been destroyed or heavily damaged. In response, the UK is calling for sustained, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so that essential aid including food, water, fuel and medical supplies can reach civilian populations. This includes calling for humanitarian pauses to ensure emergency aid can be distributed and calling for the Kerem Shalom crossing to be opened.

The UK Government has also announced £30 million in humanitarian funding and has already sent more than 51 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding will support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in responding to critical food, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza. The UK is also calling on all parties to protect border crossings to support safe humanitarian access and mitigate harm to civilians.


Written Question
Gaza and Israel: International Law
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has commissioned (a) judicial and (b) other legal advice on the Government's position with respect to the conflict in Gaza.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK position is clear: all sides must abide by their international obligations and must respect International Humanitarian Law. The Foreign Secretary and his ministerial team receive legal advice on all matters related to foreign policy, including the conflict in Israel and Gaza. The UK Government is closely following the security situation in the Middle East and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in the region.


Written Question
Tunisia: Political Prisoners
Wednesday 22nd March 2023

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in Tunisia on (a) Said Ferjani and (b) other Parliamentarians who have been arrested and remain in custody since the suspension of the Tunisian Parliament.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for North Africa, raised the UK's Issue with the recent wave of arrests directly with Tunisian Chargé d'Affaires on 23 February, underlining the importance of due legal process and respect for freedom of expression and association. His Majesty's Ambassador to Tunisia also raised UK concerns regarding the arrests with Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar on 23 February. Officials and Ministers have regular discussions with the Tunisian authorities to reiterate the UK's belief in the importance of space for legitimate political opposition, civil society, strengthening human rights and including all voices in building resilient and successful democracies. We will continue to engage the Tunisian authorities on these issues.


Written Question
Christopher Emms
Tuesday 20th September 2022

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps Ministers in her Department have taken in relation to the case of Christopher Emms since his detention in Saudi Arabia on 6 February 2022.

Answered by Gillian Keegan - Secretary of State for Education

Following the decision by the Saudi Prosecutor's office in August not to extradite Mr Emms, the British Embassy requested that the Saudi authorities swiftly conclude the administrative procedures required to remove the Saudi arrest warrant on Mr Emms, thereby allowing him to depart Saudi Arabia. Most recently, on 5 September, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South and Central Asia, North Africa, UN & the Commonwealth, raised Mr Emms' case with His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Bandar Al Saud, the Saudi Ambassador to the UK.

Consular officials in Saudi Arabia and the UK continue to provide consular assistance to Mr Emms and his family. We cannot, of course, interfere in the judicial process of another country, just as we would not expect interference in our own. However, Mr Emms' safety and welfare remain of the utmost importance, and the Embassy has engaged with the Saudi government on a number of occasions since his arrest requesting that they expedite his case for welfare reasons.


Written Question
Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Wednesday 29th June 2022

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether the UK will participate as an observer nation at the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons first meeting of state parties; and if will she make a statement.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The Government does not believe the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will bring us closer to a world without nuclear weapons. The UK will not sign the Treaty and will not send Observers to the First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW. The Government firmly believes that the best way to achieve our collective goal of a world without nuclear weapons is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach, under the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).


Written Question
Palestinians: Discrimination
Friday 1st April 2022

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to Israel regarding the urgent need to end discrimination faced by Palestinians, including land seizures, home demolitions, and forced evictions.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

In all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolitions and evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The UK raises these issues with the Government of Israel, most recently with Israel's Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Justice. I met the Israeli Ambassador Hotovely on 10 March and underlined the need to find a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.


Written Question
Palestinians: Human Rights
Thursday 31st March 2022

Asked by: Crispin Blunt (Independent - Reigate)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the systematic discrimination faced by Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories as reported by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the UN Special Rapporteur; whether she accepts the conclusion of their reports; and whether her Department plans to carry out its own legal analysis of that matter.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The FCDO is aware of the reports listed above. As a friend of Israel, we have a regular dialogue on human rights. This includes encouraging the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law.