Israel: Palestinians

(asked on 21st November 2023) - View Source

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 UN entitled Gaza: UN experts call on international community to prevent genocide against the Palestinian people, published on 16 November 2023, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of implementing an arms embargo on all warring parties.


Answered by
David Rutley Portrait
David Rutley
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 29th November 2023

The Government takes its defence export responsibilities extremely seriously and operates some of the most robust export controls in the world. All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard and we are able to amend, suspend or revoke extant licences, or refuse new licence applications, as circumstances require. We have been doing what we can to prevent regional escalation and have reiterated our support for Israel's right to self-defence and the importance of adherence to international humanitarian law. In the long term, to prevent further conflict and terrorism, there must be a political solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict: a two-state solution which provides justice and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. To make that vision a reality, we are also urging all sides to de-escalate tension in the West Bank and tackle all forms of extremism. It is vital that the Government of Israel does all it can to reduce the violence in the West Bank. We will oppose any attempts by malign actors to cause further escalation in the region.

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