Middle East: UK Military Deployments

Michael Ellis Excerpts

Tuesday 5th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[Grant Shapps]

There simply is not going to be a deployment, so that will not be required.

[Sir Michael Ellis (Northampton North) (Con)]

The Houthis, who are attacking British and American cargo ships, and Hamas are basically two sides of the same coin. They are Iranian-funded, Iranian-trained and, of course, Iranian-guided terrorist groups that are publicly committed to the destruction of Israel. Does the Defence Secretary agree that using UK military assets in support of our ally is crucial to deterring further escalation? None of us wants further escalation.

I particularly welcome the UK’s deployment of drones to help locate hostages, including British hostages. In the days after 7 October, the Defence Secretary said:

“No nation should stand alone in the face of such evil”.

Will he repeat that crucial support today and in the difficult days ahead? I thank him for his support.

[Grant Shapps]

I clarify again that these are not necessarily only drones. Some will be piloted or will be unarmed. My right hon. and learned Friend is absolutely right that no nation should stand alone. It is easy to forget how this all began, when the Hamas terrorist group thought it was a plan to go into Israel to butcher men, women and children, cut off heads and rape people.