Thank you to those constituents who have contacted me about Gaza.
After the horror we have witnessed, it is critical that the ceasefire is sustained so as to try and move towards delivering long-term peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis.
I welcome the commitment to move forward to Phase 2 of the Peace Plan, which includes the announcement of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
The UK Government is committed to supporting the reconstruction of Gaza and it is critical that the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza should be made up of Palestinians. Gaza should be run by Palestinians – free from Hamas. The UK is supporting this as a priority as we move forward.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire. Last month, UK-funded tents entered Gaza to provide critical shelter for 12,000 people. Yet, much more needs to be done, including greater access through the crossings and the lifting of barriers to aid. There is a huge need for more medical supplies and healthcare. The UK Government is raising this as part of the move to Phase 2 of the Peace Plan and regularly engages with Israeli counterparts on the issue.
The British government continues to support the independence of the International Court of Justice, and it is important that the media and others are allowed access to Gaza as soon as possible.
Regarding sanctions on Israel, since taking office, this Government has announced three packages of sanctions relating to Israel and Palestine. This includes sanctions on Israeli Ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir, in their personal capacity for inciting violence towards Palestinians.
On arms exports to Israel, following a rigorous process in line with the UK’s legal obligations, we concluded there was a clear risk that military exports to Israel, where used for military operations in Gaza, might be used in serious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL). As a result, the Government suspended approximately 30 licences for exports to Israel for items which could be used in the conflict. Ministers continue to review export licences for items to Israel, in line with our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.
Thank you once again for contacting me about this very important issue. We need to maintain the fragile ceasefire and move forward towards peace.
Best wishes
Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds South
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland