Middle East

Debate between Baroness Smith of Basildon and Baroness Blackstone

Thursday 16th October 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blackstone (Lab)]

My Lords, perhaps inevitably, there is rather little detail in the Statement. However, it does say—I think that this was endorsed by my noble friend the Leader of the House just now—that

“a viable Palestinian state is the only way to secure, lasting peace for the Middle East”.

Can my noble friend say what discussions the Government are currently having with President Trump and his senior colleagues on how to prevent further illegal settlements on the West Bank, which will surely prevent a viable Palestinian state?

[Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is absolutely right on that, and it is important that there is a viable Palestinian state across the West Bank as well. She will be aware, as I mentioned in my answer, of the reconstruction conference taking place at Wilton Park, which will bring all countries together, including the US and the UK. At the heart of that discussion are how we bring a lasting peace to the region and what reconstruction, support and action are needed. There is also the 20-point plan—it is called a peace plan, but it is a route to a plan in many ways. Those are very much items that are key to the agenda of the summit.

Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

Debate between Baroness Smith of Basildon and Baroness Blackstone

Tuesday 13th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)]

The noble Baroness is absolutely right. Delivering aid and humanitarian aid is not something that you can do on a whim. These people are experienced, have knowledge and expertise and know the areas on the ground. I was not referring to the June conference but the one taking place today in New York, but the noble Baroness is right: there is aid there now. There is aid at the borders that could be delivered. One in five of the population now faces starvation. It is critical to get that aid in as soon and as quickly as possible. The quickest way to do so would be to stop blocking the aid so that it can be delivered to those who are in desperate, dire need of it.

[Baroness Blackstone (Lab)]

My Lords, will the Leader of the House accept that the sidelining of trusted aid agencies and the militarisation of aid under this scheme will lead to large parts of Gaza, where the most vulnerable and least mobile people live, being without supplies?

[Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)]

My noble friend says that there is another scheme in place; I am not sure that there is. There are discussions about it, but I have seen no details. There cannot be any aid mechanism that does not have delivering humanitarian aid as its sole priority. It cannot deliver political or military objectives; it is there to help vulnerable civilians. That will be the priority. If there is not action almost immediately, more people will die. Women and children in Gaza face loss of life now. The figure that one in five people in Gaza faces starvation is horrendous. Yes, the hostages must be released, we must get aid into Gaza and that ceasefire must take place. Only then can we look at a longer timespan for peace in the region.