Israel and the OPTs: Minister for the Middle East Statement
Minister for the Middle East statement to Parliament on UK sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich
With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The two-state solution is in peril.
Catastrophic conflict in Gaza바카라 사이트�
and a shocking deterioration in the West Bank.
This is an affront to the rights of Palestinians바카라 사이트�
but is also against the interests of Israelis바카라 사이트�
against their long-term security and their democracy.
Today, I will update the House on new actions we are taking바카라 사이트�
to uphold human rights바카라 사이트�
and defend the vision and viability of two sides living side-by-side in peace. 聽
Mr Speaker, 2024 saw the worst settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank in the last two decades.
2025 is on track to be just as violent.
Between 1996 and 2023, an average of seven illegal settler outposts were established annually.
In 2024, settlers erected 59.
These outposts are illegal under both Israeli and international law.
Two weeks ago, the Israeli government itself announced 22 new settlements in the West Bank.
Every outpost바카라 사이트�
every building the settlers erect바카라 사이트�
is a flagrant breach of international law바카라 사이트�
and disregards the views of Israel바카라 사이트檚 partners.
There are now in excess of five hundred thousand settlers living in the West Bank바카라 사이트�
and over 100,000 in East Jerusalem바카라 사이트�
the territory that must form the heart of a sovereign, viable and free Palestine.
Mr Speaker, the sharp growth in settlements alone is dangerous enough.
But it has been accompanied by a steep rise in settler violence and extremist rhetoric.
Itamar Ben-Gvir has led seven provocative intrusions into Haram Al Sharif/Temple Mount since 2022.
In 2023, settlers rampaged through the village of Huwara바카라 사이트�
in what Israel바카라 사이트檚 own West Bank military commander described as a 바카라 사이트減ogrom done by outlaws바카라 사이트�.
Last month, the villagers of Mughayyir ad-Deir fled their homes in fear after the construction of an illegal outpost 100m away.
This month, settlers attacked the town of Deir Dibwan바카라 사이트�
setting fire to houses and injuring residents.
This violence and rhetoric is deeply concerning.
An assault not just on Palestinian communities바카라 사이트�
but on the very fundamentals of a two-state solution.
An attempt to entrench a one-state reality, where there are no equal rights.
The two-state solution remains the only viable framework for a just and lasting peace바카라 사이트�
I know it is supported on every side of this House.
Israelis living in secure borders바카라 사이트�
recognised and at peace with their neighbours바카라 사이트�
free from the threat of terrorism.
Palestinians living in their own state바카라 사이트�
with dignity and security바카라 사이트�
free of occupation.
Mr Speaker, we are steadfastly committed to defending that vision바카라 사이트�
not just with words, but with action.
That is why we have pledged 拢101m in additional support to the Palestinian people this year.
Why we are working to strengthen and reform the Palestinian Authority바카라 사이트�
Why My Right Honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary signed a landmark agreement with Prime Minister Mustafa바카라 사이트�
and why my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister welcomed him to Downing Street.
Why we are clear that Hamas must release the hostages immediately and unconditionally, and that Hamas can have no role in Palestinian governance.
Why we are committed to working with civil society 바카라 사이트� Israeli and Palestinian 바카라 사이트� to support those who believe in peace and coexistence.
However, Mr Speaker, the gravity of the situation demands further action.
The reality is that these human rights abuses바카라 사이트�
incitement to violence바카라 사이트�
the extremist rhetoric바카라 사이트�
comes not just from an uncontrolled fringe바카라 사이트�
but from individuals who are Ministers in this Israeli government.
We have to hold them to account and protect the viability of the two-state solution.
And so today, we are sanctioning Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir바카라 사이트�
acting alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway바카라 사이트�
who have also announced their own measures today.
These two men are responsible for inciting settler violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank바카라 사이트�
violence which has led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole towns and villages.
This violence constitutes an abuse of Palestinians human rights.
It is cruel and degrading바카라 사이트�
and completely unacceptable.
We have told the Israeli 바카라 사이트 repeatedly that we would take tougher action if this did not stop.
It still didn바카라 사이트檛.
The appalling rhetoric has continued unchecked.
Violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity.
So let me tell the House now바카라 사이트�
when we say something, we mean it.
Today, with our partners바카라 사이트�
we have shown the extremists we will not sit by while they wreck the prospects of future peace.
Mr Speaker, our actions today do not diminish our support for the security of Israel and the Israeli people.
The agendas of these two men are not even supported by the majority of Israelis바카라 사이트�
Israelis recognise that these individuals are not working in their interest.
As the Foreign Secretary said to this House last month바카라 사이트�
we want a strong friendship with Israel based on shared values and our many close ties.
Our condemnation of Hamas, a proscribed organisation바카라 사이트�
and the appalling attacks of October 7th is unequivocal.聽聽
Our commitment to Israel바카라 사이트檚 security and future is unwavering.
We will continue to press for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza바카라 사이트�
the release of the hostages still held so cruelly by Hamas바카라 사이트�
a ramping up of aid to those Gazans in desperate need.
The repeated threats by Hamas to the lives of the hostages are grotesque바카라 사이트�
and prolongs the agony of their families and loved ones.
Hamas should release all the hostages immediately and unconditionally.
Mr Speaker, the situation in the West Bank cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza.
Extremist rhetoric advocating forced displacement of Palestinians바카라 사이트�
denial of essential aid바카라 사이트�
the creation of new Israeli settlements in the Strip바카라 사이트�
is equally appalling and dangerous.
This 바카라 사이트 will never accept the unlawful transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza바카라 사이트�
nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic.
While Israel바카라 사이트檚 ground and air operations expand, Gazans have been pushed into less than 20% of the territory.
Hospitals have been destroyed and damaged.
Gaza바카라 사이트檚 entire population is at risk of famine.
Meanwhile, Israel바카라 사이트檚 newly introduced measures for aid delivery endanger civilians and foster desperation.
They are inhumane.
The Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah reported last week that it has responded to an unprecedented five mass casualty incidents in the two weeks prior바카라 사이트�
in each case, Palestinians have been killed or injured trying to access aid sites in Gaza.
Desperate civilians who have endured twenty months of war should never face the risk of death or injury simply to feed themselves and their families.
We need further action from the Israeli government now바카라 사이트�
to lift all restrictions on aid바카라 사이트�
to enable the UN and aid partners to do their work바카라 사이트�
and to ensure food and other critical supplies can reach people safely wherever they are.
We will continue to support the UN and other trusted NGOs as the most effective and principled partners for aid delivery.
Our support has meant over 465,000 people have received essential healthcare바카라 사이트�
640,000 have received food바카라 사이트�
and 275,000 people have improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
We support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
And we welcome France and Saudi Arabia바카라 사이트檚 initiative to chair an international conference later this month to advance a two-state solution.
Mr Speaker, it is a two-state solution that is the only way to bring the long-lasting peace that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve.
But it must not remain an empty slogan바카라 사이트�
repeated by generations of diplomats and politicians바카라 사이트�
but increasingly divorced from the reality on the ground.
Mr Smotrich said there is no such thing as a Palestinian nation.
Mr Ben Gvir has spoken of his rights in the West Bank바카라 사이트�
a territory his government is occupying바카라 사이트�
as more important than the rights of millions of Palestinians.
Their own words condemn them, Mr Speaker.
To defend those Palestinians바카라 사이트� rights바카라 사이트�
to protect the two-state solution바카라 사이트�
to see Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in safety and security바카라 사이트�
this 바카라 사이트 is taking action.
I commend this statement to the House.