Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which department is responsible for policy on tackling (1) anti-Palestinian racism, and (2) the dehumanisation of Palestinians.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government strongly opposes all forms of racism and is committed to promoting tolerant society for people of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and justify identity-based violence in conflict. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric. The UK strongly condemns inciteful remarks, such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich, which seek to inflame tensions and harm the viability of a two-state solution. In October, the Government introduced sanctions targeting 3 settler outposts and 4 organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. The Government has been engaging with the British Palestinian community, including through a PM-led roundtable with members of the Palestinian community in the UK to mark the one-year anniversary of the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials work closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand the impact of international events domestically in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have raised any formal complaint with the government of Israel over the response on social media of the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 26 April describing comments by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East about aid workers as a blood libel against Israel.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Gaza is the deadliest place to be a humanitarian in the world and it is appalling that over 400 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023. Israel's admission of responsibility for the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) strike on 19 March is an important step. As I said on social media, Israel must thoroughly investigate all attacks that have harmed aid workers, and we expect that those responsible are held to account in a meaningful way.
Steps must be taken to ensure this stops happening. The UK expects accountability when aid workers are killed, wherever it happens.
We will continue to make both private and public representations to the Government of Israel to ensure that humanitarian workers are protected and able to do their jobs safely.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any increases in Israel of (1) incitement to violence, (2) glorifying the killing of Palestinian civilians, and (3) anti-Palestinian racism; and what representations they have made to the government of Israel in this regard.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government strongly opposes all forms of racism and is committed to promoting tolerant society for people of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and justify identity-based violence in conflict. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric. The UK strongly condemns inciteful remarks, such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, which seek to inflame tensions and harm the viability of a two-state solution. In October 2024, the Government introduced sanctions targeting 3 settler outposts and 4 organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The Government has been engaging with the British Palestinian community, including through a PM-led roundtable with members of the Palestinian community in the UK to mark the one-year anniversary of the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials work closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand the impact of international events domestically in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the government of Israel has promoted (1) anti-Palestinian racism, and (2) disinformation to dehumanise Palestinians; and what representations they have made to the government in this regard.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government strongly opposes all forms of racism and is committed to promoting tolerant society for people of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and justify identity-based violence in conflict. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric. The UK strongly condemns inciteful remarks, such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, which seek to inflame tensions and harm the viability of a two-state solution. In October 2024, the Government introduced sanctions targeting 3 settler outposts and 4 organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The Government has been engaging with the British Palestinian community, including through a PM-led roundtable with members of the Palestinian community in the UK to mark the one-year anniversary of the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials work closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand the impact of international events domestically in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the role of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on policy for tackling (1) anti-Palestinian racism, and (2) the dehumanisation of Palestinians.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government strongly opposes all forms of racism and is committed to promoting tolerant society for people of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and justify identity-based violence in conflict. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric. The UK strongly condemns inciteful remarks, such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, which seek to inflame tensions and harm the viability of a two-state solution. In October 2024, the Government introduced sanctions targeting 3 settler outposts and 4 organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The Government has been engaging with the British Palestinian community, including through a PM-led roundtable with members of the Palestinian community in the UK to mark the one-year anniversary of the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials work closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand the impact of international events domestically in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will convene a cross-government working group on tackling anti-Palestinian racism.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government strongly opposes all forms of racism and is committed to promoting tolerant society for people of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and justify identity-based violence in conflict. The Government will challenge those who undermine the prospects of a two-state solution or use hateful rhetoric. The UK strongly condemns inciteful remarks, such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, which seek to inflame tensions and harm the viability of a two-state solution. In October 2024, the Government introduced sanctions targeting 3 settler outposts and 4 organisations that have supported, incited and promoted violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The Government has been engaging with the British Palestinian community, including through a PM-led roundtable with members of the Palestinian community in the UK to mark the one-year anniversary of the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials work closely with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand the impact of international events domestically in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 17 February (HL4711), what steps they are taking to address dehumanisation in situations of conflict.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to protecting those most at risk in situations of conflict. Promoting compliance with International Humanitarian Law is a cornerstone of our commitment to the rule of law and the UK calls on all parties to a conflict to observe robust standards.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 17 February (HL4711), what steps they are taking develop a policy on tackling the dehumanisation of Palestinians.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and seek to justify identity-based violence in conflict. The proliferation of harmful online narratives and its impact on conflict is an emerging challenge. Partnering with specialist organisations, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working to identify global best practices for mitigating harmful digital behaviours in conflict - including misinformation, disinformation and hate speech - and considering how action on such digital harms can be integrated into our wider approach to conflict and atrocity prevention.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken (1) to address and tackle disinformation surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and (2) to challenge dehumanising language and racist tropes in conflict situations.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and justify identity-based violence in conflict. The proliferation of harmful online narratives and its impact on conflict is an emerging challenge. Partnering with specialist organisations, the FCDO is working to identify global best practices for mitigating harmful digital behaviours in conflict - including misinformation, disinformation and hate speech - and considering how action on such digital harms can be integrated into our wider approach to conflict and atrocity prevention.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address sectarian divisions around the world, as part of the United Kingdom's contribution to conflict transformation.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Recognising the UK's fundamental role as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, which has brought peace and prosperity to Northern Ireland, the UK continues to draw on the lessons and experiences of the people of Northern Ireland through working with peacebuilding organisations and arranging study tours for people from conflict affected states. Following the Foreign Secretary's recent visit to Dublin, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is building closer co-operation on peacebuilding ahead of the UK-Ireland Summit.
The UK continues to invest in the Peacebuilding Fund, the UN's primary mechanism supporting prevention and peacebuilding activity in over 40 countries including Sudan, South Sudan, West Africa, and the Sahel. The UK has contributed over £175 million since the inception of the Peacebuilding Fund in 2006, including £5 million for 2024-2025.
In Lebanon, the UK's Conflict, Stability and Security Fund programme is supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Force to be able to manage and respond to internal security threats, including sectarian and inter-communal tensions.