"Thank you for contacting me about the war in Gaza which started in the wake of the October 7 attacks in Israel. In these appalling attacks, approximately 1,400 people were murdered and approximately further 3,500 were injured. Furthermore, around 200 people were taken hostage including the elderly and children.
Hamas is an extremist fundamentalist Islamic terror group and is fully responsible for this atrocity. Their stated purpose is to kill all Jews and destroy the State of Israel. The Palestinian people and Hamas are not one of the same, and Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or their aspirations. It offers nothing for them but poverty and violent coercion since they suspended elections in Gaza. Hamas planned and chose to attack Israel knowing full well that there was a risk of a full-scale conflict that would put the people they rule over in harm's way.
In the wake of the attacks on October 7, Israel has decided that Hamas poses such a threat that they need to be removed militarily in an act of self-defence. The UK has been consistently clear that in doing so it must respect international humanitarian law. The Government respects the role and independence of the ICJ. However, the UK Government believes that South Africa’s case at the ICJ is not helpful in achieving the goal of a sustainable ceasefire. The Government's view is that Israel's actions in Gaza cannot be described as a genocide but the UK also remains clear that formal determination of genocide should be based upon the final judgement of a competent court. The Court’s call for the immediate release of hostages and the need to get more aid into Gaza is a position the UK has long advocated.
On UNRWA, I am appalled by allegations that any agency staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism. I am aware that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services and Catherine Colonna have now provided their interim reports to the UN Secretary-General. The UK wants UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again.
There must be a reduction in civilian casualties, and I agree with the Government that we want to see Israel take much greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. The suffering that civilians in Gaza are experiencing is unbearable to witness, and it is imperative that more aid reaches them. During a visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories last November, the Foreign Secretary announced £30 million to support trusted partners, to deliver lifesaving aid to people in Gaza. It brings to £60 million the additional aid announced by the UK for Palestinian civilians since the crisis started in October.
The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza, and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities.
The UK has also been clear that all parties must afford civilians the protection that is their right under international law. That includes respecting the sanctity of hospitals, so that doctors can continue to care for the sick and injured.
Work is also ongoing to increase the flow of aid into Gaza. The UK is doing everything it can to get more aid and open more crossings, and we played a leading role in securing the passage of UN Security Council resolution 2720, which made clear the urgent demand for expanded humanitarian access and made calls for the release of hostages. I very much understand and share your concerns about the food security situation in Gaza and the growing risk of famine. The UK and its partners are stepping up efforts to aid as quickly as possible by land, sea and air.
Ministers have also been clear that Israel must take action to allow more aid into Gaza, including scaling up the Jordan corridor, opening a crossing in northern Gaza (Karni, Erez or a new crossing point), fully opening Ashdod Port for aid delivery, and increasing screening capacity at Kerem Shalom and Nitzana to seven days a week and extended hours.
I want to assure you that the UK is doing all it can to get as much food into Gaza as possible. Ministers recently announced that more than 2,000 tonnes of UK-funded food aid is being distributed by the World Food Programme on the ground. This is the UK's largest delivery of aid to Gaza in this crisis. This follows 750 tonnes of UK-funded food aid arriving in Gaza in December, delivered through the World Food Programme, followed by a second delivery of 315 tonnes in January. Last month the UK and Jordan also air-dropped life-saving food and medicines directly to the Tal Al-Hawa hospital in northern Gaza.
Nobody wants to see this conflict last a moment longer than necessary. I support the UK Government’s position, which is calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life. Indeed, the Government made a Written Statement to Parliament on 23 February setting out this position. It should be noted that on Monday 25 March, the UN Security Council passed a resolution with the support of the UK calling for an immediate ceasefire for the month of Ramadan, the immediate and unconditional release of hostages and "the urgent need to expand the flow" of aid into Gaza. There were 14 votes in favour with the United States abstaining.
The UK Government continues to work with its partners towards a two-state solution, which remains the only viable long-term solution. In December of 2023 on behalf of a number of constituents I sought clarification about the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories from a Minister. Their response can be found using this link: Lord Ahmad's letter in response to the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (January 2024) | Sally-Ann Hart (sallyannhart.org.uk).
In regard to trade, there are no plans to suspend the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement or to suspend negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Israel. However, I would like to assure you that the UK will maintain its long-standing foreign policy positions in this FTA, including with respect to the internationally recognised borders of Israel, and will continue to exclude illegal settlements.
In regard to arms sales to Israel, the UK Government takes its export control responsibilities extremely seriously and operates one of the most robust export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, based on the most up-to-date information and analysis available.
Licence decisions take account of prevailing circumstances at the time of application and include human rights and international humanitarian law considerations. Export licences are not issued where to do so would be inconsistent with the consolidated criteria, including where there is a clear risk that the items might be used for a serious violation of international law.
Thank you again for contacting me.
Yours sincerely,
Sally-Ann Hart MP"