Chiswick’s MPs question Foreign Office minister on Gaza

Image: Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, questioning minister Hamish Falconer on Gaza; parliamentlive TV

What is the British Government going to do about Gaza?

The Government is “deeply concerned” about the resumption of hostilities in Gaza, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Foreign Office, Hamish Falconer, told Parliament on Wednesday.

“The UK does not support an expansion of Israel’s military operations,” he said. “Continued fighting and more bloodshed is in nobody’s interest.”

Since then, Hamas has launched rockets at Israel from inside Gaza, a handful of which landed, wounding one person, and Israel has retaliated with a fresh wave of airstrikes on Gaza, killing 56 Palestinians according to the health ministry run by Hamas.

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting Washington to talk to President Trump today.

Image: Minister Hamish Falconer gives his reply; parliamentlive TV

Speaking in Wednesday’s debate, Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick said:

“In the past few days, the worst extremist, Ben-Gvir, has rejoined the Israeli Government; Red Crescent medics have been killed by Israeli forces; and Israel has started a fresh ground invasion, killing hundreds of women and children, with the specific intention of annexing Palestinian territory.

“After every atrocity and illegal act, the Foreign Office expresses its concern, and then things get worse. Has the Minister considered what steps the Government should take to make things better on the ground for Palestinians and Israelis?

Hamish Falconer replied:

“Of course. That is the thought in our mind every day as we see the imagery, and are sent it by our colleagues and our constituents. Every day, this Government see with our own eyes the horror in Gaza, and every day we ask ourselves what we can do to try to ensure that this goes in the direction of our policy, and not in the direction that it has done—the direction of the end of the ceasefire.”

Image: Rupa Huq speaking in the debate; parliamentlive TV

What are our red lines?

The MP for Ealing Central and Acton, Rupa Huq, who represents the Southfield ward in Chiswick, also tried to push the minister on what action our government might take:

“Since Hamas’s war crimes of 7 October, we have seen multiple flagrant breaches of the rules of the international order,” she said.” This week, 15 Palestinian paramedic Red Crescent workers were found in a mass grave alongside their abandoned emergency vehicle. That comes on top of a four-week total aid blockade.

“What are our red lines about how this war without end, in which ceasefires and signed agreements can be tossed aside, is being conducted?”

Hamish Falconer said:

“Our position on the conduct of war is that taken by international humanitarian law. We have set out the risks and our concerns about breaches, and we continue to take actions that are in line with our assessment.”

Image: Andy Slaughter taking part in the Gaza debate, Wednesday 2 April; parliamentlive TV

Foreign Secretary justifies selling F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel

Last month in a similar debate Andy Slaughter asked the Foreign Secretary David Lammy about a range of options the Government could take, saying:

“Failing to act in the face of Israel breaking the ceasefire in such a violent manner has consequences: it undercuts moderate voices in Israel, damages the UK’s reputation internationally, and compromises our support for international law and the rule of law.

“Will the Foreign Secretary look again at Government policy on recognition, sanctions, trade and arms supply while the atrocities continue against Palestinian civilians?”

David Lammy answered the point about recognising Palestine as a state, but not his other points.

“I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising the issue of recognition, which I know is dear to him and others in this House. It is a serious issue. He knows that recognition, in and of itself, does not deliver a two-state solution.

“He knows that we want a two-state solution and the recognition of a Palestinian state, but that is best done as part of a process that actually gets us to two states. He will recognise that the decision by other partners to move to recognition has not alleviated the suffering before our eyes, which is why there must be a careful balance.

“I recognise that different Governments and Members will come to different judgments, but I am holding out for two states—including an actual state for the Palestinian people, which is a just cause—and not just for a symbolic act.”

David Lammy had answered a question about arms sales to Israel earlier in the debate, when Ann Davies asked him:

“With the possibility of UK arms being used by Israel against children and, if not, will he end, not postpone, all arms sales immediately?”

The Foreign Secretary’s reply was:

“We are absolutely not in the business at the moment of selling arms that could be used in Gaza under our licensing decisions—save, of course, for the decision we made on F-35s.

“That is because, in looking at the supply chain and recognising risks and conflicts in other parts of the world, including in the Euro-Atlantic, we had to make some serious judgments.”

The Government has argued Nato’s air defence against Russia could be compromised if it stopped supplying parts to Israel.

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