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Written question asked by Lord Turnberg (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 March 2015, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 1 April 2015. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 March 2015 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.


Middle East

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 13 March (HL5374), what steps they are taking to alert Gazan citizens of the need to vacate the area where Hamas are rebuilding tunnels close to the border with Israel.

Answer

We have no plans to alert Gazan citizens of the need to vacate areas where Hamas are rebuilding tunnels. It would be the role of the de facto government in Gaza or the Government of Israel to give a warning if the civilian population were under threat from any military action. International Humanitarian Law requires warring parties to give ‘effective advance warning’ of attacks that may affect civilian populations.

We stress the importance of protecting the civilian population in accordance with international law with the Government of Israel and we have asked all those with influence to stress the same point to Hamas.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5848
Session
2014-15
Related items
Middle East
Friday, 13 March 2015
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Armed conflict Tunnels Israel Palestine Middle East Gaza Hamas
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk