Gaza: Humanitarian Situation

Joe Powell Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Doughty]

The hon. Member knows that we do not comment on specific designations or on sanctions in advance. I have heard what he said and hear many other calls for sanctions on those involved in the expansion of settlements and the settler violence and terrorism that we have seen. We have already introduced a number of sanctions on individuals, we are considering other cases, and we will update the House in due course.

[Joe Powell (Kensington and Bayswater) (Lab)]

I welcome the Minister’s message of letting aid and journalists in, and I strongly condemn the approach and tone of the shadow Foreign Secretary in response to the statement. I welcome the expansion of the global human rights regime to include obstructing delivery or access to humanitarian aid and look forward to that being used soon, as the Minister said, as well as the new regime on illegal settlements. Will the Minister say what more is being done to prepare the legislation around the trade ban for activity in the illegal settlements?

[Stephen Doughty]

I certainly can say more, and I am pleased that my hon. Friend welcomes the regime. He rightly talks about some of the additional powers that we have taken in the GHR and IHL regimes. We are working at pace to bring in the wider settlement trade ban. The Foreign Secretary said it will take six to nine months, but I hope we can be at the earlier end of that spectrum. We need to ensure that the regime is effective, proportionate and that it has an impact on deterring and disrupting those who are expanding and facilitating the settlements. The Foreign Secretary has been very clear about the message to businesses and others involved in that. We are also ensuring that the regime has the appropriate religious considerations in place, and that it does not affect trade with green line Israel, which we of course continue to support.