Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps he has taken to (a) encourage the Israeli Government to uphold international law and (b) ensure the protection of (i) journalists and (ii) citizens in Gaza.
We recognise the valuable work of journalists operating on the ground in Gaza, providing important coverage of the conflict in incredibly challenging circumstances. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have both met the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and have stressed to him that Israel must protect all civilians as far as possible and abide by International Humanitarian Law; under International Humanitarian Law, journalists covering conflicts should be afforded protection. We continue to press both at the UN and directly with Israel for unhindered humanitarian access and substantive humanitarian pauses, to ensure the conditions are safe for humanitarian organisations to deliver aid to those in need and give respite to civilians.
The UK also supported the recent Media Freedom Coalition statement expressing concern over the repercussions for the safety of journalists and access to information caused by the serious escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. It called on all parties to the conflict to comply with international law and guarantee the protection of journalists and media workers covering the conflict.