Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department granted a Special Mission Immunity certificate to a (a) visitor and (b) prospective visitor since 1 January 2024; and what the nationality was of each person.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO has granted one Special Mission Status certificate since 1 January 2024. This certificate was for the visit of Israeli Minister Benny Gantz on Wednesday 6 March.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department granted a Special Mission Immunity certificate to a (a) visitor and (b) prospective visitor in 2023; and what the nationality was of each person.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO did not issue any Special Mission Certificates in 2023.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the fatal shooting of Ramzi Abu Sahlool.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to be respected and civilians to be protected. Too many civilians have been killed and we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. The Foreign Secretary continues to make these points in discussions with his Israeli counterparts.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2024 to Question 8441 on Israel: Gaza, whether he has sought legal advice on the (a) absence of intention to commit genocide on the part of the Israeli leadership and (b) threshold for engaging signatories to the Genocide Convention to comply with their duties under Articles I and VII.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
As previously stated, in terms of the situation in Gaza, we recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We do not believe that calling this genocide is the right approach; it is wrong to suggest that Israeli leadership, and Israel as a country, have the intention to commit genocide. Ultimately, it is for the courts to decide on the matters of genocide, not for states.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the comments on imposing a complete siege on Gaza by Israeli Defence Minister on 9 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We support Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, but it must comply with International Humanitarian Law and there must be a reduction in civilian casualties. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza. The UK trebled our aid commitment this financial year and is doing everything it can to get more aid in and open more crossings. Israel must now take steps, working with other partners including the UN and Egypt, to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses, opening more routes into Gaza and restoring and sustaining water, fuel and electricity.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, when he plans to respond to Questions 8440, 8441 and 8442 on Israel:Gaza tabled on 8 January 2024 by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I am writing to the honourable member separately on this matter. We are working hard to respond to these questions as quickly as possible, and apologise for the delay in doing so, which in no way reflects an unwillingness to answer these questions. Rather, these questions cover subjects which are dynamic and fast moving, and necessarily require detailed work to ensure a complete, accurate and up-to-date response in the context of fast-moving developments.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps his Department has taken to comply with its duties under Articles I and VIII of the Genocide Convention in the context of the war in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
As a party to the Convention, the UK is fully committed to the prevention and punishment of genocide as appropriate under the Convention.
In terms of the situation in Gaza, we recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We do not believe that calling this genocide is the right approach. It is wrong to suggest that Israeli leadership, and Israel as a country, have the intention to commit genocide.
Ultimately, it is for the courts to decide on matters of genocide, not for states. We respect the role and independence of the International Court of Justice.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the comments on the destruction of the whole of Gaza by the Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom on 3 January 2024.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
As the Foreign Secretary has said publicly, Israel has the right to defend itself but, in so doing, it must abide by International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We have pressed Israel, including in the Prime Minister's discussions with Prime Minister Netanyahu and in engagements with senior Israeli officials, including the Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom: to ensure its campaign complies with IHL; to allow aid to enter Gaza; to end settler violence and hold perpetrators to account; and to work with the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross to improve the desperate humanitarian situation.
It is vital that all parties ensure that their actions minimise harm to civilians. The UK welcomes the adoption of UNSCR 2720, which calls for expanded humanitarian access in Gaza. The resolution also calls for steps towards a sustainable ceasefire, reflecting the recent calls from the Foreign Secretary. We want to see a peaceful resolution to this conflict as soon as possible and the UK will work with international partners to ensure the implementation of this resolution.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department plans to (a) support the request for preventative measures and (b) otherwise participate in the case against Israel at the international court of justice brought by the Republic of South Africa.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
This development is unhelpful and we do not support it. We recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. We do not believe that calling this genocide is the right approach. It is wrong to say that Israeli leadership, and Israel as a country, have the intention to commit genocide. Ultimately, it is for courts to decide on matters of genocide, not for states. We of course respect the role and independence of the International Court of Justice.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the (a) reported Israeli settler violence and intimidation against the Armenian community of Jerusalem and (b) attempted takeover of the Cows Garden plot in the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem by Israeli settler organisations linked with Xana Capital.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is monitoring the situation in the Cow Garden site of the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem and are clear on the need to avoid any further rise in tensions. The British Consulate Jerusalem will be meeting representatives on this issue in the coming week. The UK's position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states. The UK is a strong believer in the need to preserve Jerusalem's strong multi-ethnic, multi-faith character. The UK is also a strong supporter of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and an advocate for the integrity of cultural important areas to be respected. The UK continues to take a strong stance against settler violence, and urges Israel to take stronger action to stop settler violence and hold the perpetrators accountable.