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 restrictions imposed by the government of Israel on (1) the movement of Palestinians within Palestinian territories, and (2) Palestinians seeking to travel abroad.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK regularly raises the issue of freedom of movement and access into and out of the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli authorities. We recognise Israel's legitimate need to deploy security measures and we encourage them to deploy these in a way that minimises tension.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 March (HL6555), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Israel regarding the killing of 13-year-old Mohammad Rezq Shehadeh Salah by Israeli forces near Bethlehem.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
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, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 March (HL6555), what assessment they have made of the findings by the Defence for Children in Palestine report on 31 March, which found that (1) five Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces this year, and (2) that 2021 was the deadliest year for Palestinian children since 2014 with 78 children killed by Israeli forces and armed Israeli civilians.
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 assessment they have made of the government of Israel’s plans to develop a road that will enable construction in the E1 area of the West Bank, in particular the impact the road would have on the viability of an independent Palestinian state.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law. We urge the Government of Israel to cease the construction of settlement units in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
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 impact the government of Israel’s plans to (1) build 10 new settlements, and (2) resume its forestation work, in the Naqab, will have on the existing Bedouin communities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We continue to follow the debate around unresolved Bedouin land claims, unrecognised Bedouin villages in the Negev and lack of basic services for Bedouin communities. We continue to encourage the Israeli authorities and Bedouin communities to agree a satisfactory solution to these issues.
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 (1) the policy of the government of Israel of demolishing the homes of suspected Palestinian terrorists, and (2) the restrictions on demonstrations against this policy.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolitions and evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. On 19 January, the former Minister for Middle East urged the Government of Israel to stop these practices. The UK raises these issues with the Government of Israel, most recently with Israel's Ministry of Defence on 20 January and Ministry of Justice on 27 January.
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 the incarceration of Ahmad Manasra for almost six years, from the age of 13.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We 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 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.
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 recent reports of the restrictions placed on healthcare services in the West Bank and Gaza, including the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, resulting from transit restrictions imposed by the government of Israel.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK regularly raises the issue of freedom of movement and access into and out of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including for healthcare services, with the Israeli authorities.
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 report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Protection of Civilians Report: 25 January - 7 February 2022, dated 11 February; and in particular, the prevalence of the use of violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We raise the issue of the high numbers of Palestinians killed and injured by Israeli Defence Forces in the West Bank and Gaza with the Israeli authorities, encouraging them to carry out swift, transparent and thorough investigations. Officials from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv raised the case of Ammar Shafiq Abu Afifeh with the Israeli Authorities on 2 March. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population 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 assessment they have made of press reports that teenager Amar Shafiq Abu Afifa was killed near Bethlehem by Israeli forces.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We raise the issue of the high numbers of Palestinians killed and injured by Israeli Defence Forces in the West Bank and Gaza with the Israeli authorities, encouraging them to carry out swift, transparent and thorough investigations. Officials from the British Embassy in Tel Aviv raised the case of Ammar Shafiq Abu Afifeh with the Israeli Authorities on 2 March. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population and urge restraint in the use of live fire.