Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Debate between David Lammy and Adnan Hussain

Tuesday 20th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lammy]

My hon. Friend the Minister for the middle east has left the Chamber because he has summoned the Israeli ambassador. He will be discussing the issues I have discussed and the mood of the House, and urging her to watch this debate, because we need to see action on the ground.

[Mr Adnan Hussain (Blackburn) (Ind)]

Fourteen thousand babies is the number: 14,000 babies will die in Gaza within the next 48 hours if aid is not let in. Minister, I ask you, does your Government honestly believe that what is happening in Gaza is not a genocide? What are your Government doing to stop genocide in Gaza? It seems that you are comfortable in supplying weapons to a state that is equally comfortable in starving children. I finish by asking: what actions are you going to take? Perhaps you could expel the Israeli ambassador.

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)]

Order. “What actions are you going to take”? The hon. Member has been in the House long enough to know that that is not appropriate language. I should not have to repeat myself.

Middle East

Debate between David Lammy and Adnan Hussain

Thursday 16th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lammy]

We absolutely support that, and we will continue to work towards it.

[Mr Adnan Hussain (Blackburn) (Ind)]

I join in with the sentiments of relief and hope for peace after a horrific 15-month-long ordeal. However, a ceasefire cannot take away from the fact that Israel is on trial for genocide and its leaders have arrest warrants in their names for their crimes committed against the people of Gaza. A ceasefire does not change that fact; justice and accountability must be realised in the face of some of the most horrific war crimes of our times. Will the Minister therefore confirm that the Government will stand by their commitment to treaties under international law and uphold the requirements of the arrest warrants already issued?

[Mr Lammy]

We are signatories to the treaty of Rome, and we will comply with our legal obligations—not just because we should, but because we believe in them.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Lammy and Adnan Hussain

Tuesday 30th July 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Can I just say to everybody that Members are meant to speak through the Chair? Please look towards me or the mics might not pick you up.

[Mr Hussain]

I hear what the Secretary of State said, but does he agree that the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine is vital to the UK’s commitment to uphold international law and norms, vital to the processes required to bring about an immediate and just peace, and vital to the notion that diplomatic means and not violence are the way to resolve the conflict? Does he agree that failure to recognise the state of Palestine has had and continues to have catastrophic implications for the people of Palestine, as they face what the International Criminal Court has described as plausible genocide?

[Mr Lammy]

The hon. Gentleman is right that peace will be achieved through a political solution, not through military means. But I disagree that recognition itself will bring about peace. The Biden plan is on the table at the moment, and we would like Hamas and the Israeli leadership to accept it. That is what will give us a ceasefire and get us to a place where we can achieve that two-state solution.