Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Debate between Dawn Butler and Caroline Nokes

Wednesday 4th June 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dawn Butler (Brent East) (Lab)]

Minister, if we do not recognise Palestine, it will cease to exist, and I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool Wavertree (Paula Barker). Israel has approved another 22 settlement sites in the occupied west bank—the biggest expansion in decades. It violates international law. Minister, Louis Theroux’s incredible documentary “The Settlers”, which I will be showing today—he is in Parliament today—highlights the grim reality of the settlers’ mindset. Minister, you must agree that it is time that we have a strong debate. You cannot persuade—

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. The hon. Lady is better than that.

[Dawn Butler]

The passion is overtaking me, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Minister, do you not agree that we need—[Interruption.]

[Madam Deputy Speaker]

Order. People keep addressing the Minister as “Minister”. They should be asking their questions through the Chair. The hon. Lady should say, “Does he agree?”

[Dawn Butler]

Absolutely, Madam Deputy Speaker.

Does the Minister agree that it has gone far enough, and that we must have this debate and say we will apply sanctions to Israel? No more arms should go to Israel. We must see the Palestinians as people and help them to survive.

International Women�s Day

Debate between Dawn Butler and Caroline Nokes

Thursday 6th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Dawn Butler]

I thank the Minister for doing what she does and reading out those names. This was a very difficult debate to have had, and I feel more emotional than normal because I fear that things are going to get worse. I fear that that list is going to get longer, because we are at a tipping point. If we do not stop what is going on around the world, and if we do not call it out, it will get worse.

I thank everybody who contributed to the debate. It has been a powerful debate, and it is wonderful for Members to have an excuse to talk about the brilliant women in their constituencies. It has been great to hear about them, and I would love to meet them all. Women have talked about their lived experiences: about being pregnant and how they were treated as a disabled woman; about being the youngest woman in Parliament and how they are treated; and about being raped and how they have come through that. I hope that everybody outside the Chamber hears that lived experience and hears those stories.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)]

And we should never need an excuse.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House has considered International Women�s Day.