Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2024 to Question 15325 on Gaza: Internally Displaced People, whether he plans to seek guarantees from his Israeli counterparts on the right to return of Palestinians displaced from their homes in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We have been clear that we need Israel to ensure effective systems to guarantee the safety of aid convoys, humanitarian operations and indeed IDP returns.
We are calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. The Government continues to press these points, most recently when the Prime Minster spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 15 February.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2024 to Question 15734 on Israel: Arms Trade, how many arms export licences have been assessed since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The Department for Business and Trade will publish licensing statistics, including for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in line with its usual process.
The Government takes its defence export responsibilities extremely seriously and operates some of the most robust export controls in the world. All applications for export licences are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard and we are able to suspend, refuse or revoke licences as circumstances require. We can and do respond quickly and flexibly to changing international circumstances. The Government continues to monitor closely the situation in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights entitled Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice, published on 23 February 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We note this report.
The Government is clear that all parties must act within International Humanitarian Law.
We have repeatedly condemned the 7 October attack against Israel by Hamas, a heinous act of terrorism. We have been clear that they must release all hostages, that their capacity to launch attacks against Israel must be removed, and that they must no longer be in charge of Gaza. These are some of the vital elements for a lasting peace.
We also want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. As the occupying power in Gaza, Israel also has to ensure that humanitarian aid-including food, water and shelter-is available to people in Gaza. Israel must also take meaningful steps to hold those responsible for extremist settler violence to account. We regularly review advice about Israel's capability and commitment to IHL, and act in accordance with that advice.
We are calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the reported construction of a corridor bisecting Gaza by Israel; and whether he has discussed that matter with his (a) Israeli and (b) Palestinian counterparts.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We continue to monitor the situation closely in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We are clear that a viable two state solution is the best means to achieve lasting peace and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians. The Prime Minister pressed this point in his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu 15 February.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Johns Hopkins University entitled Crisis in Gaza: Scenario-Based Health Impact Projections, published on 19 February 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are aware of this report.
As the Foreign Secretary has said, Palestinians civilians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Too many civilians have been killed and we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.
The immediate priority must be a humanitarian pause in the fighting, which is the best route to get aid in and hostages out. We want that pause to lead to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to destruction, fighting and further loss of life. That remains the focus of all our diplomatic effort.
There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza and our focus must be on practical solutions that save lives. We trebled our aid commitment this financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in and open more crossings. On 21 February, the UK and Jordan air-dropped life-saving aid to the Tal Al-Hawa hospital in northern Gaza. Four tonnes of vital supplies were provided, including medicines, fuel and food for hospital patients and staff.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his Department's policies of the report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation in Sudan, published on 23 February 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK welcomes the recent report of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the situation in Sudan. This report adds to the mounting credible evidence of abuses taking place in Sudan, attributed to both warring parties. The UK continues to support the essential work of OHCHR in monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in Sudan, including Darfur. The UK has consistently condemned reported violations and pushed for the warring parties to agree a ceasefire, engage in a meaningful peace process and grant immediate humanitarian access. We continue to call for an end to the violence and for those responsible for human rights violations to be held to account.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the statement by Human Rights Watch entitled Israel not complying with World Court order in genocide case, published on 26 February 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza. Israel must take steps, working with other partners including the UN and Egypt, to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses, opening more routes into Gaza and restoring and sustaining water, fuel and electricity. We have reiterated the need for Israel to open more crossing points into Gaza, for Nitzana and Kerem Shalom to be open for longer, and for Israel to support the UN to distribute aid effectively across the whole of Gaza.
We have trebled our aid commitment this financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in and open more crossings. On 21 February, the UK and Jordan air-dropped life-saving aid to the Tal Al-Hawa hospital in northern Gaza. Four tonnes of vital supplies were provided, including medicines, fuel, and food for hospital patients and staff. We are clear that an immediate pause is necessary to get aid in and hostages out, and then we want to build towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to the fighting.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2024 to Question 14379, what the timescale is for his Department's review of its assessment of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are monitoring closely the situation in Israel and the Occupied-Palestinian Territories. We regularly review advice about Israel's capability and commitment to International Humanitarian Law.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the advisory proceedings on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem at the International Court of Justice.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The Government supports a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. The UK voted against the United Nations General Assembly resolution because we did not believe that a request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an Advisory Opinion constituted the appropriate mechanism to bring the parties back to dialogue. It is also the position of the UK that it is inappropriate, without the consent of both parties, for the Court to deliver an Advisory Opinion in what is essentially a bilateral dispute. Our written and oral statements to the Court reflect this position. The UK is clear, however, that we respect the role and independence of the ICJ. We will consider any Advisory Opinion if and when it is issued by the ICJ.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the statement by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights entitled Arms exports to Israel must stop immediately: UN experts, published on 23 February 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are aware of this statement. The Government operates a robust and thorough assessment of licence applications against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria and we will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with that Criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law.
We are monitoring the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories very closely. All our export licences are kept under careful review and we are able to amend, suspend or revoke extant licences, as well as refuse new licence applications if they are found to be inconsistent with the Criteria.