Written question asked by Richard Burden (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 March 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 March 2019 (named day). It was answered by Alistair Burt (Conservative) on Monday, 25 March 2019 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Occupied Territories: Demonstrations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had and on what dates with (a) the United Nations Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry, (b) the Israeli Government, (c) the Palestinian Authority, and (d) partner countries on the Human Rights Council on the Commission of Inquiry (i) investigation and (ii) report into protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Answer: We regularly raise our concerns about the situation in Gaza with the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority, pressing them on the need for a long-term strategy to improve humanitarian and economic conditions, and reduce movement and access restrictions. I raised Gaza with the Israeli Ambassador to the UK on 30 January, and with the Palestinian Foreign Minister on 4 February. On 18 March, the EU gave an intervention on the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry, in which we expressed our concern about the high number of Palestinians killed and injured and the use of excessive force including live fire, and condemned violence and provocations against Israel by Hamas and other militant groups.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 234657
Session: 2017-19
Subjects: Demonstrations Palestinian Authority Israel Occupied territories UN Human Rights Committee UN Human Rights Council
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk