Gaza: Ceasefire

Lord Bishop of Gloucester Excerpts

Tuesday 18th March 2025 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[The Lord Bishop of Gloucester]

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester to ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the durability of the ceasefire in Gaza.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Lord Collins of Highbury) (Lab)]

My Lords, our position is clear. We do not want to see a return to fighting. The reported civilian casualties resulting from these strikes are appalling. Our priority is urging all parties to return urgently to dialogue and to ensure that the ceasefire agreement is implemented in full and becomes permanent. The fighting must stop; hostages must be released, and civilians must be protected, including those who have returned home during the ceasefire.

[The Lord Bishop of Gloucester]

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. We on these Benches find the recent airstrikes on Gaza deeply shocking and abhorrent, as we do the continued cruel holding of hostages. Following the Foreign Secretary’s comments yesterday that Israel was breaking international law by cutting aid to Gaza, what steps are being taken to ensure that the Government of Israel abide by their international obligations as the occupying power to ensure unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza? What consideration has been given to introducing targeted sanctions should the Government of Israel persist with this culture of impunity?

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

The Foreign Secretary’s and the Government’s position remains that Israel’s action in Gaza is at a clear risk of breaching international humanitarian law. Our international humanitarian law assessments have raised concerns about possible breaches of IHL in the areas of humanitarian access and the treatment of detainees, and we took decisive action on 2 September, suspending all licences for the IDF. We have also been clear that the Government are not an international court, and we therefore could not arbitrate on whether Israel has breached international humanitarian law.

However, I can be clear to the right reverend Prelate that humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool. Israel must restart the flow of aid immediately. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have both made it clear that we are appalled by Israel blocking aid when it is needed at greater volume and speed than ever before. Blocking goods, supplies and power entering Gaza risks breaching international humanitarian law and should not be happening. We are doing everything we can to alleviate the situation. It is disappointing to hear reports that the Rafah crossing has now closed to medical evacuations. This is a desperate situation, and we urge all parties to return to the table.