Shireen Abu Aqla

Steve McCabe Excerpts
Monday 16th May 2022

(2 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Steve McCabe Portrait Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak) (Lab)
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I acknowledge my role as chair of Labour Friends of Israel. The killing and the events at the funeral are shocking by any standards. I absolutely condemn what happened at the funeral, but as I understand it Shireen Abu Aqla was killed during a gun battle; the facts have not yet been established, and the Palestinians have rejected an offer of a joint investigation with the Israelis. Surely in this place it helps no one to state as fact what people want or feel inclined to believe. Will the Minister do everything to offer British resources and assistance to ensure that an independent, impartial investigation is established, and that we participate in it, if that would be helpful?

Vicky Ford Portrait Vicky Ford
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We are not only calling for that investigation but working with other members of the UN Security Council on that joint statement from countries around the world strongly condemning the killing and stressing the importance of the investigation.