Written Evidence Dec. 18 2023
Inquiry: The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North AfricaFound: deployed by international actors (US, UK, and EU countries) and regional actors (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey
Mentions:
1: Andrew Mitchell (Con - Sutton Coldfield) The Government’s end goal is clear: Israelis should be able to live without fear of Hamas terrorism, - Speech Link
2: David Lammy (Lab - Tottenham) We cannot let innocent Palestinians lose lifesaving aid because of Hamas terrorists.Meanwhile, there - Speech Link
3: Michael Ellis (Con - Northampton North) Meanwhile, Hamas have been ordered to release the hostages, which they have not done. - Speech Link
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterparts in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories on the escalation of violence in the West Bank.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful resolution. He pushed for agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza, the release of British hostages and foreign nationals and securing safe passage for British Nationals to leave Gaza. The Foreign Secretary also discussed the urgent need for the Rafah crossing to open so that lifesaving aid can reach those who need it and for Hamas to release the hostages. Since the Hamas attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from almost 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East.
Mentions:
1: Alec Shelbrooke (Con - Elmet and Rothwell) At the moment, we are seeing Russia trying to stop the movement of grain through Turkey, and the potential - Speech Link
2: Rishi Sunak (Con - Richmond (Yorks)) Lady would do well to call on Hamas and the Houthis to de-escalate the situation. - Speech Link
3: Rishi Sunak (Con - Richmond (Yorks)) As we have previously stated, Israel has a right to take action in self-defence against Hamas. - Speech Link
4: Rishi Sunak (Con - Richmond (Yorks)) Hamas simply do not represent the Palestinian people’s legitimate aspirations. - Speech Link
5: Jonathan Edwards (Ind - Carmarthen East and Dinefwr) Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan and Egypt—countries we would not describe as anti-western in any way—have - Speech Link
Written Evidence Dec. 18 2023
Inquiry: The UK’s engagement with the Middle East and North AfricaFound: Hamas has also received support from Iran and Turkey, amongst others.138 Hamas leaders are regularly
Mentions:
1: Tom Tugendhat (Con - Tonbridge and Malling) What Hamas did that day was barbaric. It was evil. - Speech Link
2: Tom Tugendhat (Con - Tonbridge and Malling) Hamas are not heroes. Those who perpetrated the attacks on 7 October are monsters. - Speech Link
3: Christian Wakeford (Lab - Bury South) When we see Hamas operatives here in the capital, that is a step too far. - Speech Link
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department are taking to help expedite negotiations between Israel and Palestine on ending violence and promoting peace.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 19 October, the Foreign Secretary travelled to the region where he met leaders in Egypt, Turkey and Qatar to help prevent the conflict spreading across the region and to seek a peaceful resolution. He will push for agreement on humanitarian access to Gaza, the release of British hostages and foreign nationals, and securing safe passage for British Nationals to leave Gaza. The Foreign Secretary also discussed the urgent need for the Rafah crossing to open so that lifesaving aid can reach those who need it and for Hamas to release the hostages. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon along with the Foreign Secretary attended Cairo Peace Summit on 21 October to address the international community on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Since the Hamas attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from almost 20 countries as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East.
Mentions:
1: Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con - Life peer) He has also visited Qatar and Turkey. - Speech Link
2: Baroness Deech (XB - Life peer) The Hamas invasion of 7 October was, to Hamas, a foretaste of its declared aim to remove those 7 million.The - Speech Link
3: Lord Alderdice (LD - Life peer) Majesty’s Government taking seriously, as I believe they should, the offer from President Erdoğan of Turkey - Speech Link
Nov. 22 2023
Source Page: Foreign Secretary commits to working closely with Islamic states on Israel-Gaza crisis at Lancaster House meetingFound: Visit followed agreement reached overnight between Israel and Hamas on coordinated hostage releases and
Mentions:
1: Lord Sahota (Lab - Life peer) My heart goes out to all the victims of Hamas, a terrorist organisation. - Speech Link
2: Lord Hannay of Chiswick (XB - Life peer) Would that be to offer Hamas victory? - Speech Link
3: Lord McInnes of Kilwinning (Con - Life peer) Armenia is a country that has lost a war, does not enjoy normalised relations with Turkey or Azerbaijan - Speech Link
4: Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Con - Life peer) You have to get the Hamas leadership out of Gaza. - Speech Link