Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Khalid Mahmood Excerpts
Monday 29th January 2024

(3 months, 1 week ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrew Mitchell Portrait Mr Mitchell
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My right hon. and learned Friend points—absolutely rightly, I believe—to the hideous nature of the charge against Israel of genocide, and I agree with him on that. On the release of hostages, which everyone has been asking for, I have read the reports of the meetings that took place in France over the weekend. It is still not clear whether significant progress has been made, but we all very much hope that it has.

Khalid Mahmood Portrait Mr Khalid Mahmood (Birmingham, Perry Barr) (Lab)
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The right hon. Gentleman mentioned the interim measures set out by the ICJ but refused to answer the question from my right hon. Friend the shadow Foreign Secretary. Does the Minister believe that Israel has a legal obligation to comply with the measures set out by the ICJ?

Andrew Mitchell Portrait Mr Mitchell
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The answer to that has been set out in the House on a number of occasions. Israel plans to act in accordance with international humanitarian law and has the ability to do so. That is what the British Government continually press upon the Israeli Government.