UN Independent Commission of Inquiry (Gaza) Debate

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Department: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

UN Independent Commission of Inquiry (Gaza)

Tania Mathias Excerpts
Wednesday 8th July 2015

(9 years, 5 months ago)

Westminster Hall
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Tania Mathias Portrait Dr Tania Mathias (Twickenham) (Con)
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It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Hollobone. I commend the hon. Member for Halifax (Holly Lynch) for securing the debate. I want to speak briefly about the independent commission of inquiry and in particular about the points made in the concluding observations of its report. The fourth concluding observation mentions the use of live ammunition and

“the destruction of entire neighbourhoods…the policy itself violates the laws of war.”

I commend to everyone the concluding observations and recommendations. They are important for all the debates in this area.

The report recommends that Palestinians and Israelis should be

“refraining from and taking active steps to prevent statements that dehumanize the other side”.

Having seen the United Nations Relief and Works Agency director general, Pierre Krähenbühl, on his visit to MPs, I note the critical importance of the conflict. Daesh is in the area, and I want all the recommendations to be implemented. As the independent commission has said, the greatest challenge is to implement its fair recommendations.