Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Israel on the potential merits of creating a two-state solution with Palestine.

We want to see an end to the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible and are calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. These are the vital steps:

• A political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.
• The formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support package.
• Removing Hamas's capacity to launch attacks against Israel.
• The release of all Israeli hostages.
• Hamas no longer in charge of Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister have reiterated these messages in their contacts with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior Israeli political leaders, including during the Foreign Secretary's visit to Israel on 24 January.

We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.