Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about the reported arrest of a Palestinian child by Israeli security forces in the West Bank on 29 May, for throwing rocks.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We are concerned about the security situation in Jerusalem and look to all parties to take steps to de-escalate tensions. Israel's extensive use of administrative detention, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian children.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel, if any, about the reported fatal shooting of Odeh Mohammad Odeh Sadaqa by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We regularly raise the issue of the high numbers of Palestinians killed and injured by Israeli Defense Forces in the West Bank and Gaza with the Israeli authorities, encouraging them to carry out swift, transparent and thorough investigations. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to protect access to water for Palestinians in the West Bank.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK has raised the issue of access to water in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli authorities, including stressing the urgent need for Israel to take immediate and practical measures to improve the current situation and ensure fair distribution of water in the West Bank.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning reports of the imprisonment, without charge or trial, of Mohammad Ghassan Ahmad Mansour.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We remain committed to working with Israel to secure improvements to the practices surrounding children in detention and raise this with the Israeli Ministry of Justice. We call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and either charge or release detainees.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning reports of Israeli forces using a girl as a human shield, and then bombing her home in Jenin, on 13 May.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian children. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the need to protect children. We also regularly raise the importance of the Israeli security force's adherence to the principles of necessity and proportionality when defending its legitimate security interest.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the analysis by Defence for Children International published on 17 April which found that between 2016 and 2021, 75 per cent of Palestinian children in Israeli detention suffered physical violence, 83 per cent were strip searched, 31 per cent were denied access to a toilet, 59 per cent were arrested at night, and 97 per cent had no family member present while under interrogation.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports from Defence for Children International that (1) during an interrogation on 8 February at Huwwara military base, Israeli forces threatened to shoot or hang a 13-year-old; and (2) on 22 February at Megiddo prison, an Israeli interrogator extinguished a cigarette on the arm of a 15-year-old.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that a 17 year old Palestinian boy, Shawkat Kamal Shawkat Abed, was killed by the Israeli military using an exploding bullet.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about its reasons for (1) refusing, and (2) delaying, permits for medical treatment for children in Gaza.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK continues to monitor closely the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza. We are a longstanding supporter to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides core services, including healthcare to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and across the wider region. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv recently raised the importance of access to healthcare, including for children, with the Israeli authorities.