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
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
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
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.
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 estimate of the proportion of civilian infrastructure that has been destroyed in Gaza since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. We continue to press these points in engagements with Israeli counterparts and international partners, including during the Prime Minister's call with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 15 February.
We are deeply concerned about the impact of Israeli Defence Force (IDF) operations on the civilian population in Gaza.
As the occupying power in Gaza, Israel has to make sure that humanitarian aid, including food, water and shelter, is available to people in Gaza.
As we have said, we want to see 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 international community will need to make a massive effort to deliver a reconstruction plan for Gaza.
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 is taking diplomatic steps to help prevent the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The Government firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza.
Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will be part of a future Palestinian state. We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.
We want the fighting to stop now. 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, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the decision of the UN World Food Programme to pause deliveries of food aid to northern Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We are greatly concerned by the pause in aid distributions by the UN World Food Programme in Northern Gaza, and by the difficulties that are hindering relief delivery efforts. We have reiterated the need for Israel to support the UN to distribute aid effectively across the whole of Gaza. As we have said, 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. The Prime Minister discussed this in his call 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, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the United Nations statement entitled Gaza: Rafah invasion would be a disaster ‘beyond imagination’, warn UN medics, published on 14 February 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We are deeply concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah. Over half of Gaza's population are sheltering in the area, and the Rafah crossing is vital to ensure aid can reach the people who so desperately need it.
The immediate priority must be a humanitarian pause in the fighting, which is the best route to secure the safe release of hostages and significantly step up the aid reaching Gaza. We want that pause to lead to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to further fighting.
The Foreign Secretary has also underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza, and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities.
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 potential implications for his policies of an Israeli military incursion into Rafah.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We are deeply concerned about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah. Over half of Gaza's population are sheltering in the area, and the Rafah crossing is vital to ensure aid can reach the people who so desperately need it.
The immediate priority must be a humanitarian pause in the fighting, which is the best route to secure the safe release of hostages and significantly step up the aid reaching Gaza. We want that pause to lead to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to further fighting.
That remains the focus of all our diplomatic effort.
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 21 February 2024 to Question 14355 on Gaza: Internally Displaced People, whether he has had discussions with Israeli counterparts on guaranteeing the right to return of Palestinians displaced from their homes in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The Prime Minister noted in his call on 15 February with Prime Minister Netanyahu the importance of continuing to abide by International Humanitarian Law and protecting civilian infrastructure, including shelters.
We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.
We have also been clear that the international community will need to make a massive effort to deliver a reconstruction plan for Gaza.
We want the fighting to stop now. 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, with reference to the statement by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, published on 8 February 2024, whether his Department is taking diplomatic steps to help prevent the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We acknowledge this statement. As we have said, there must be a reduction in civilian casualties and all parties must act within International Humanitarian Law. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. These are points the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have consistently made and reinforced with Prime Minster Netanyahu when he and the Prime Minister spoke on 15 February.
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. This remains the focus of all our diplomatic effort.