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 - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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 - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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 - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 21 February (HL6050), what judicial body they consider would be able to make decision about allegations of the crime of apartheid in respect of Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The issue of jurisdiction over the crime of apartheid is a matter for an appropriate international judicial body. The government believes that the use of the apartheid terminology hardens positions on both sides. We encourage direct engagement between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Our priority remains support for a two-state solution.
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 effects of Israeli settlement activity on the Geneva Convention.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law. Minister James Cleverly raised UK opposition to settlement expansion with the Government of Israel on 9 November. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity.
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, 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 - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the need to protect children. We encourage them to carry out swift, transparent and thorough investigations.
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 about incursions by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recognise Israel's legitimate need to deploy security measures and we encourage them to deploy these in a way that minimises tension and uses appropriate force. 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.
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 data from the Gaza Sub-National Health Cluster and WHO that indicate that (1) in December 2021 Gaza only had 40 per cent of the essential medicines it needs, amounting to just one month's supply, and (2) in some months as many as 50 per cent of permits for treatment outside Gaza are denied or delayed by the Israeli authorities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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. The UK Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises the importance of access to healthcare 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 (1) the government of Israel's settlement policy, and (2) the reported harming of civilians protesting against new settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law. The former Minister for the Middle East, James Cleverly, raised UK opposition to settlement expansion with the Government of Israel on 9 November. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel concerning the reported assault of Ahmad Mteir, a resident of Qalandiya Refugee Camp, by Israeli border police officers.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.