Gaza and Israel: Religious Freedom

(asked on 9th November 2023) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact on freedom of religion and belief in Israel and Gaza of the destruction of sites of worship.


Answered by
David Rutley Portrait
David Rutley
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 20th November 2023

We have no means of independently assessing the impact of the crisis on freedom of religion and belief however we are aware of reporting that religious sites have been hit. The UK position is clear: civilian infrastructure including places of worship must be protected in conflict. All states, including Israel, must exercise their legitimate right to self-defence in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary will continue to engage regularly and closely with their Israeli counterparts on this issue. Our focus right now is getting humanitarian aid into Gaza, securing the release of British hostages and showing solidarity with Israel in defending itself against Hamas.

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