Hilary Benn - Labour MP for Leeds South
I have had many heartfelt emails about Gaza and the West Bank.
Like you, I am deeply concerned about what is happening in Gaza. The level of suffering is intolerable, and the UN have warned that half a million Palestinians face starvation. The lack of aid reaching ordinary Gazans is appalling.
The Labour Government has been clear. The Israeli government’s failure to allow full humanitarian access to aid workers is abhorrent and the denial of essential humanitarian aid to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching international law.
On 19 May, the UK, France and Canada issued a statement strongly opposing the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The statement said:
“The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. This must include engaging with the UN to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles. We call on Hamas to release immediately the remaining hostages they have so cruelly held since 7 October 2023.
The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law. We condemn the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli Government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate. Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law.
Israel suffered a heinous attack on October 7. We have always supported Israel’s right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate. We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response.
We oppose any attempt to expand settlements in the West Bank. Israel must halt settlements which are illegal and undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and the security of both Israelis and Palestinians. We will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions.”
The UK followed this up when the Foreign Secretary David Lammy made a statement to Parliament in which he described the Israeli government’s deliberate blocking of humanitarian aid as “abominable” and its disproportionate military assault on Gaza and calls by Israeli cabinet ministers for the “cleansing” of the the territory as “repellent” and “monstrous”. He went on to say that “Israel’s plan is morally unjustifiable, wholly disproportionate and utterly counterproductive.”
He said he was suspending negotiations with the Israeli government on a new free trade agreement and summoning the Israeli Ambassador to the Foreign Office in order to convey the Government’s views.
He also announced new sanctions on individuals and entities involved in settler movements in the West Bank. This is in addition to the suspension of certain arms sales to Israel which occurred 8 months ago. He also announced £4m of new humanitarian aid for Gaza.
On 10 June, the UK announced sanctions on two Israeli ministers over “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities” in the occupied West Bank. Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich will both be banned from entering the UK and will have any assets in the UK frozen as part of the measures announced by the Foreign Secretary.
What we need is an immediate ceasefire to get the remaining hostages out, and to get aid that is desperately needed in.
I am also deeply concerned by recent events in the West Bank. The UK Government continues to call on the Israeli authorities to adhere to international law and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. Settler violence is unacceptable, and the Government continues to raise this issue with Israeli counterparts.
The UK Government considers Israeli settlements to be illegal under international law. As a result, goods produced in those settlements are not entitled to benefit from trade and trade preferences under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel.
On sanctions, the Government uses sanctions carefully to address malign activity and to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to fundamental human rights. For example, in October, the Government announced new sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank.
And whether in the West Bank or Gaza there must be no forced displacement. Palestinians should be able to return and rebuild their homes and lives.
Finally, I would urge you to read the statement that was made at the recent meeting of the UN Security Council on behalf of the UK Government about all of these matters. You can see it here:
Thank you for writing to me about this most important issue.
Best wishes
Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds South
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland