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.

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.