Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the statement by the Prime Minister on 21 September 2025 that he had directed work to sanction Hamas figures "in the coming weeks", (1) what progress has been made in implementing that commitment, (2) which individuals, if any, have since been sanctioned pursuant to that commitment, and (3) if no further sanctions have yet been imposed, when they expect such sanctions to be introduced.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK proscribed Hamas in its entirety in November 2021, making it a criminal offence to be a member of or support the organisation. The UK has also sanctioned Palestinian Islamic Jihad, The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, and a number of associated individuals. The UK Government carefully considers how and when sanctions can be deployed to maximise their impact, but it is our long-standing position not to speculate about specific designations, as to do so could lessen their impact.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 16 June (HL Deb col 140), what assessment they have made of the report by the US Department of State Steps Taken by the Palestinian Authority to Counter Incitement of Violence against Israelis and to Promote Peace and Coexistence with Israel, published in May; the report by Al-Hurriyah Radio on 3 June; and the statement by Guillaume Mercier of the EU Commission in November 2025 that the Palestinian Authority has continued to use and divert international funding to pay the families of Palestinian terrorists and their families.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Further to the answer provided on 13 November 2025 to Question HL11575, we continue to await the results of the forthcoming independent audit into the Palestinian Authority's welfare programme, and it remains crucial for them to deliver their ambitious and necessary 'National Program for Development and Reform' rapidly and in full. A reformed Palestinian Authority is vital to the success of the Two State-Solution.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made in securing for British claimants restitution, compensation for, or commemoration of property seized from Polish victims of the Nazis since the appointment of the first Special Envoy for Post Holocaust Issues in 2010.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK believes strongly in the principle of property restitution for Holocaust survivors, who have waited over 80 years for justice and recognition of their loss of property. We are committed to upholding the Terezin Declaration on Holocaust-Era Assets, which sets out measures to right the economic wrongs that accompanied the Holocaust against the Jews and other victims of Nazi persecution across Europe. The UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, Jon Pearce MP, most recently met with the president of the World Jewish Restitution Organisation (WJRO) on May 6 where the issue of restitution, including in Poland, was discussed as a priority. We continue to work closely with the WJRO to progress restitution efforts.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the most recent incumbent Special Envoy for Post Holocaust Issues regarding that post's role in international progress on Holocaust-era property and art restitution issues.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK believes strongly in the principle of property restitution for Holocaust survivors, who have waited over 80 years for justice and recognition of their loss of property. We are committed to upholding the Terezin Declaration on Holocaust-Era Assets, which sets out measures to right the economic wrongs that accompanied the Holocaust against the Jews and other victims of Nazi persecution across Europe. The UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, Jon Pearce MP, most recently met with the president of the World Jewish Restitution Organisation (WJRO) on May 6 where the issue of restitution, including in Poland, was discussed as a priority. We continue to work closely with the WJRO to progress restitution efforts.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese’s report Torture and Genocide to the UN Human Rights Council, published in February 2026, addresses or omits the torture, sexual violence and mistreatment of hostages held by Hamas and other terrorist groups in Palestine.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 8 June in response to Question HL462.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in response to the UN Secretary-General's call in his Annual Report on Conflict-related Sexual Violence for accountability with due process of law for conflict-related sexual violence committed by Hamas during the 7 October 2023 attacks and in their aftermath.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 8 June in response to Question HL462.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the Civil Commission’s report 'Silenced No More: Sexual Terror Unveiled', published in May, particularly its conclusion that sexual and gender-based violence was used systematically during the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel and subsequent hostage captivity; and what steps they are taking to support international efforts to investigate and prosecute such crimes under international law.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 8 June in response to Question HL462.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to uphold the provisions of Articles 38 and 44 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to transit passage.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
It has been a top priority for the Government in recent weeks, working alongside our international partners, to ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls or conditions, and we will continue working to promote navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz and in other contexts around the world, in accordance with international law as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 26 March (HL Deb col 1610) that "we are opposed to item 7 in the Human Rights Council", and the speech by the UK Human Rights Ambassador on 31 March in which she stated that there had been a change in the UK voting position, what is their current position on item 7; why they changed their voting position; and whether they have responded to the objections raised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK's longstanding and principled objection to Item 7 remains unchanged. Item 7 unfairly and uniquely singles out the State of Israel in comparison to other countries. The UK will continue to argue for the removal of Item 7 and to push for issues related to Israel-Palestine to be discussed under alternative agenda items.
We believe that engaging in negotiations, including abstaining where we judge appropriate, while making clear our principled opposition to Item 7, is more likely to secure UK influence over the texts. This is the approach that the UK maintained between 2006 and 2018 and is in line with the approach taken by many European partners.
UK Ministers regularly engage with the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which Taiwan fulfils the four requirements for statehood set out in the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States: permanent population; defined territory; an effective government; and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan, as set out in the 1972 UK-China Communique, has not changed and remains the position of this Government.