Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2024 to Question 8441 on Israel: Gaza, whether he has sought legal advice on the (a) absence of intention to commit genocide on the part of the Israeli leadership and (b) threshold for engaging signatories to the Genocide Convention to comply with their duties under Articles I and VII.

As previously stated, in terms of the situation in Gaza, we recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We do not believe that calling this genocide is the right approach; it is wrong to suggest that Israeli leadership, and Israel as a country, have the intention to commit genocide. Ultimately, it is for the courts to decide on the matters of genocide, not for states.