Written question asked by Bishop of Worcester (Bishops (affiliation)) on Wednesday, 10 January 2024, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 January 2024. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Friday, 26 January 2024 on behalf of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Armed Conflict: International Humanitarian Law

Question: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the war in Gaza might affect respect for international humanitarian law in other conflicts.

Answer: We recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). As the Foreign Secretary has outlined, we assess that Israel has the capability and commitment to comply with IHL, but we are also deeply concerned about the impact on the civilian population in Gaza. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes.

Secondary information