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 Israeli counterpart on Israel’s political objectives in Gaza.

In recent weeks the Foreign Secretary has reiterated to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Katz and other senior politicians the UK's call for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out and then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. Vital steps include the release of all Israeli hostages, 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, Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza and a political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. We need to generate momentum now towards a permanent peace.