Israel and Hamas: Humanitarian Pause Debate
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Stephen Timms
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Israel and Hamas: Humanitarian Pause
Stephen Timms Excerpts(1 year ago)
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Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Eleanor Laing)
It is great when the Minister gives very quick answers, which is what I asked him to do.
Sir Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab)
The prospect of the carnage simply resuming at the end of this pause is a really dreadful one. What is the Minister’s assessment of the likelihood that the ceasefire might be made permanent if, over a period of some further days, all the hostages are released?
Mr Mitchell
The right hon. Gentleman will have seen the statements by the Israeli Government about the number of hostages to be released and the possibility of extending the pause in that respect. The view of the British Government is that we should do everything we can to ensure the hostages are released as speedily as possible. The longer that this pause continues, the greater chance there is for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza and for progress to be made.