Gaza: Humanitarian Situation Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office
Thursday 8th February 2024

(9 months, 2 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Pannick Portrait Lord Pannick (CB)
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My Lords, the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza is tragic indeed, but the House needs to focus on the causes of this tragedy. Gaza has received billions of dollars, pounds and euros in aid over the past decades, but this has not been used to improve education, health or the economy of Gaza. Much of it has gone into the Swiss bank accounts of Hamas leaders, and most of it has been used to build tunnels and attack Israel. If Hamas were now to release the hostages, and if Gaza were no longer used as a military base for attacking Israel, there would be no war in Gaza.