Brendan O'Hara

I have conducted several visits to the region since my appointment in July 2024, most recently a visit to Ankara on 2-4 March for a UK-Turkey ministerial dialogue focused on the current situation in Syria.

The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and Christians. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor have all raised human rights recently with their counterparts.

More broadly, this Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora.

The UK has no current plans to join the Hague Group. The UK is fully committed to international law and respects the independence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

This Government is clear that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) must be upheld, and civilians protected, and the Government continues to press Israeli counterparts on issues of international law compliance. Stability in the West Bank is crucial to ensure the fragile ceasefire in Gaza can last.

We are unable to comment on the detail of intelligence matters, for operational security reasons.

There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza strip. Palestinian civilians, including those evacuated from northern Gaza, must be permitted to return to their communities and rebuild. Our position is clear - we want to see a negotiated two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people, with a sovereign Palestinian state, which includes the West Bank and Gaza, alongside a safe and secure Israel.

It is not appropriate to comment on an ongoing legal case. The UK remains committed to upholding human rights and international law, including through its international engagement.

Upholding the rule of law is central to the strategic approach to human rights and democratic governance, set out by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Africa on 10 December 2024. We unreservedly condemn the use of torture for any purpose and regularly call on States to ensure that those in detention are treated in line with international human rights law. The UK is a state party to the UN Convention against Torture. The FCDO is proud to work with the Association for the Prevention of Torture and Advocates for International Development to deliver training and advocacy work, globally.

On 10 December 2024, the Foreign Secretary and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Collins, set out their five priorities for promoting and protecting human rights, rule of law and democratic governance. The UK recognises that meaningful engagement with survivors of human rights violations improves the effectiveness of our policies and programmes. We are committed to empowering and engaging survivors, including people with lived experience of modern slavery and business-related human rights abuses for the National Baseline Assessment on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We also engage survivors of conflict-related sexual violence through the Survivor Advisory Group for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The UK government is seriously concerned about reports that detained Uyghurs in Thailand are at risk of imminent refoulment.

We have raised the issue directly with the Thai Government and continue to work closely with likeminded partners. We continue to urge Thailand, as a State Party to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and at a minimum in accordance with refugee law obligations under customary international law not to undertake the refoulment of these individuals to China.

The UK has always been clear that an immediate ceasefire is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. We remain focused on pushing for an end to the devastating violence in Gaza, protecting civilians, ensuring the release of all hostages and an increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza. Officials from the British Consulate General in Jerusalem have regular engagements with the Christian community in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, to understand the impact of the conflict and Israeli occupation on Christian Palestinians. The UK champions, and remains strongly committed to, Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral organisations, our bilateral work and our programme funding.

The UK remains committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release so he can be reunited with his family. The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly raised Mr El-Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, most recently during his visit to Egypt on 23 January. The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi to raise Mr El-Fattah's case on 8 January. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, raised with the Foreign Minister on 2 January on a visit to Cairo. The UK will use the upcoming Universal Periodic Review on Egypt in January to raise issues relating to human rights. Officials and the Ambassador raise this continually with Egyptian counterparts.

We continue to meet regularly with a range of pro-democracy actors from Myanmar, including senior representatives from the National Unity Government (NUG) and from a number of Ethnic Resistance Organisations (EROs). The UK stands in solidarity with those calling for a return to democracy in Myanmar and we are committed to supporting a plurality of voices. The UK is clear that any future settlement for Myanmar, must be inclusive, and involve a wide range of opposition actors, including the NUG and EROs. The Myanmar military regime must engage with them and all other opposition groups.

Policy on the International Criminal Court (ICC), including the ICC Act (2001), is owned by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The UK government condemns the unacceptable language that has been used by Israeli ministers Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. Israel should condemn this language and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. The UK government does not speculate about possible future sanctions designations, as to do so could reduce their impact.

During his first visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on 14-15 July, the Foreign Secretary pressed Israeli leaders to deliver on their promise to "flood" Gaza with aid. We are concerned at reports of humanitarian agencies being unable to do their jobs because of visa restrictions. We are calling for the full co-operation of Israel with the UN and humanitarian agencies to grant visas and allow for the unfettered access required by humanitarians.

The Government is committed to upholding our international obligations and has raised these with Israeli counterparts. The Foreign Secretary discussed International Humanitarian Law compliance in Gaza with Prime Minister Netanyahu directly during his visit to Israel on 14 July. The protection of civilians is a vital part of this.

The last visit to the Ministry of Defence by a General of the Israel Defense Forces took place on Wednesday 22 January 2024, by Major General Oded Basyuk.

We have no plans to repeal the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Act 2021.

Working level discussions have taken place between officials from the Ministry of Defence and Dutch Ministry of Defence on civilian harm mitigation and response. This has also included officials from the US Department of Defence as well as officials from Defence Ministries of other allies. The aim of these discussions is to advance engagement between allies on sharing and promoting best practice on civilian harm mitigation within respective Armed Forces.

I thank the hon. Member for raising this report with the Department.

Where the UK undertakes military action, it is conducted in full accordance with UK and international law.

Military action is meticulously planned in accordance with the recognised IHL principles of proportionality, military necessity, distinction and humanity, as well as in line with relevant policies such as the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict; Joint Service Publication 985 – Human Security in Defence. Great care is taken to minimise the risk of harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure, and this sits at the core of our approach.

Working level discussions are ongoing between Ministry of Defence officials, our allies, and civil society organisations to share and promote best practice on civilian harm mitigation.

Our mandate is narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only. We are unable comment further on detailed intelligence matters for operational security reasons.

The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) mandate is narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only, including British nationals. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities. The MOD has robust policies, practices and processes which are entirely consistent with our legal obligations under domestic and international law.

The Secretary of State for Defencec, and MOD officials, have regular discussions with their Israeli counterparts on the remaining hostages and other matters, including complying with International Humanitarian Law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) mandate is narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only, including British nationals. Only information relating to hostage rescue will be passed to the relevant authorities. The MOD has robust policies, practices and processes which are entirely consistent with our legal obligations under domestic and international law.

The Secretary of State for Defencec, and MOD officials, have regular discussions with their Israeli counterparts on the remaining hostages and other matters, including complying with International Humanitarian Law and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.