Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what factual conclusions they have reached about the use of rape and sexual violence against women as a weapon of war during the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on 7 October; what further steps they will take at the United Nations to raise the issue of the use of rape and sexual violence against women in conflict; and what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to ensure that the perpetrators of such violence are brought to justice for war crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal.

The reports of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas against Israeli women and girls and other civilians are horrifying. We unequivocally condemn sexual violence in Israel and wherever it occurs in the world. Conflict-related sexual violence is an abuse of human rights and when perpetrated in the context of an armed conflict, can constitute a violation of international humanitarian law such as a war crime. We are regularly engaging with partners, including the UN, on this issue to urge that all reports of gender-based violence are rigorously and independently investigated and that perpetrators are held to account, to ensure justice for victims.

The UK is committed to strengthening the global response to conflict-related sexual violence. Our Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) strategy, launched in 2022, sets out the work we are leading globally to prevent Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and strengthen justice for all survivors. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon gave a statement on 15 December regarding the reports of sexual violence by Hamas, calling for them to be fully investigated to ensure justice for survivors and victims.