To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the political situation in Gaza.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the political situation in Gaza.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli government to allow unimpeded access to Gaza for food, fuel and medical supplies; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli government to allow unimpeded access to Gaza for food, fuel and medical supplies; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government are assisted in the repatriation of any UK citizens from Gaza during the conflict in the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government are assisted in the repatriation of any UK citizens from Gaza during the conflict in the region.

With the leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We have had a good debate, but the division of opinion that it has revealed across all parties underlines the difficulty of securing a resolution of the problems in the middle east. Powerful contributions, demonstrating real concerns, were made by the...

With the leave of the House, Mr. Deputy Speaker. We have had a good debate, but the division of opinion that it has revealed across all parties underlines the difficulty of securing a resolution of the problems in the middle east. Powerful contributions, demonstrating real concerns, were made by the...

I have made it very clear, and it is the collective view of the Government, that that bombing is indefensible and unacceptable. As the Foreign Secretary said earlier this week,"““Hamas has shown itself over a number of years ready to be murderous in word and deed. Its motif is 'resistance'...

I have made it very clear, and it is the collective view of the Government, that that bombing is indefensible and unacceptable. As the Foreign Secretary said earlier this week,"““Hamas has shown itself over a number of years ready to be murderous in word and deed. Its motif is 'resistance'...

I respect the passion and conviction of my hon. Friend. She has spoken to me privately about her concerns. I genuinely do not believe that economic sanctions will help us. There is nothing like consensus for them within the European Union, and our overriding focus at present is to get...

I respect the passion and conviction of my hon. Friend. She has spoken to me privately about her concerns. I genuinely do not believe that economic sanctions will help us. There is nothing like consensus for them within the European Union, and our overriding focus at present is to get...

If I may make some progress, I shall address that specific point later in my remarks.

If I may make some progress, I shall address that specific point later in my remarks.

Very briefly.

Very briefly.

That point is well made, Mr. Deputy Speaker. In answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck), I should say that I understand the concerns about disproportionality. We have made clear our view that the Israeli reaction is disproportionate. I will come on...

That point is well made, Mr. Deputy Speaker. In answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck), I should say that I understand the concerns about disproportionality. We have made clear our view that the Israeli reaction is disproportionate. I will come on...

No. I shall make progress, if I may. The point about the number of hon. Members wishing to speak is clear. We recognise Israel's right to self-defence but, as I said, the EU presidency stated on 27 December that the Israelis' use of force is disproportionate. We supported that statement...

No. I shall make progress, if I may. The point about the number of hon. Members wishing to speak is clear. We recognise Israel's right to self-defence but, as I said, the EU presidency stated on 27 December that the Israelis' use of force is disproportionate. We supported that statement...

I say in all sincerity to my hon. Friend that I understand that concern. In the past two weeks, I have talked with numerous groups in detail about the issues. I cannot give a guarantee; the British Government do not have the capacity to mandate a ceasefire. We are doing...

I say in all sincerity to my hon. Friend that I understand that concern. In the past two weeks, I have talked with numerous groups in detail about the issues. I cannot give a guarantee; the British Government do not have the capacity to mandate a ceasefire. We are doing...

Let me say to my hon. Friend that I understand that concern. Israel does have a right to self-defence. I was in Ashkelon, and I have experienced the psychological and military aspects of the terror on Israel—but the Israeli action has been disproportionate. On both sides, we need to get...

Let me say to my hon. Friend that I understand that concern. Israel does have a right to self-defence. I was in Ashkelon, and I have experienced the psychological and military aspects of the terror on Israel—but the Israeli action has been disproportionate. On both sides, we need to get...

I shall make some progress and then take a couple more interventions, but I am very conscious of the time scale this afternoon. The final objective is that we must re-energise the peace process. The crisis is an indictment of the international community's collective failure—over years and decades, not just...

I shall make some progress and then take a couple more interventions, but I am very conscious of the time scale this afternoon. The final objective is that we must re-energise the peace process. The crisis is an indictment of the international community's collective failure—over years and decades, not just...

We have consistently argued that all states should accede to the International Criminal Court, and we will continue to make that call.

We have consistently argued that all states should accede to the International Criminal Court, and we will continue to make that call.

I share the view that part of the reason we are where we are today is a collective failure on the part of the international community, not just over months, but over years and decades. With a new Government in Israel, with a new President in the United States, and...

I share the view that part of the reason we are where we are today is a collective failure on the part of the international community, not just over months, but over years and decades. With a new Government in Israel, with a new President in the United States, and...

With respect, I want to proceed with my speech, and then I will take one more intervention. It is now a week since the Security Council passed resolution 1860, but the violence goes on. Every day that it does, more people suffer. Egypt, which brokered the previous lull, is now...

With respect, I want to proceed with my speech, and then I will take one more intervention. It is now a week since the Security Council passed resolution 1860, but the violence goes on. Every day that it does, more people suffer. Egypt, which brokered the previous lull, is now...

I shall make some progress, then take a further intervention. On 27 December and with our support, the UN Security Council called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Since then, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have been working intensively with their international counterparts to deliver such a ceasefire....

I shall make some progress, then take a further intervention. On 27 December and with our support, the UN Security Council called for an immediate halt to the fighting. Since then, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have been working intensively with their international counterparts to deliver such a ceasefire....

It is unacceptable on all sides. In the midst of this, and given the incredibly detailed and sensitive negotiations that are going on, it would be foolhardy of me to pluck a prediction out of the air. What I can promise my hon. Friend is that the Government, through the...

It is unacceptable on all sides. In the midst of this, and given the incredibly detailed and sensitive negotiations that are going on, it would be foolhardy of me to pluck a prediction out of the air. What I can promise my hon. Friend is that the Government, through the...

We have communicated that directly to the Israeli Government both privately and publicly in respect of the use of white phosphorous. On the other issues that the hon. Gentleman raised, I should say, as I have said a number of times, that I will come on to address them directly.

We have communicated that directly to the Israeli Government both privately and publicly in respect of the use of white phosphorous. On the other issues that the hon. Gentleman raised, I should say, as I have said a number of times, that I will come on to address them directly.

I will make some progress and take some more interventions. One of my real fears is that current actions risk fuelling extremism in the region and undermining those who argue for negotiation and peace.

I will make some progress and take some more interventions. One of my real fears is that current actions risk fuelling extremism in the region and undermining those who argue for negotiation and peace.