Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to open diplomatic relations with Hamas in order to assess the viability of a long-term truce such as Hamas offered in 2006.

Our policy towards Hamas is clear - we have no contact with Hamas, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation. Hamas must renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept previously signed agreements. Hamas must make a credible movement towards these conditions, which remain the benchmark against which their intentions are judged, before we consider a change in our stance.