I refer the Noble Baroness to the responses I gave when this issue was raised in the House on 6 July by Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws, Official Report, vol. 858, cols. 5-8.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not issued such guidance to charities or to the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Government and Charity Commission for England and Wales expect charities to act lawfully, in line with the charity’s purpose, and in the charity’s best interest.

Any concerns about a charity’s activities should be referred to the charity in the first instance. If their response is unsatisfactory or there is a belief that the charity is acting unlawfully or engaged in misconduct or mismanagement, concerns can be raised with the Charity Commission. The Charity Commission takes such concerns seriously, prioritising resources and taking appropriate and proportionate action. As a civil regulator, the Charity Commission refers all potential criminal matters to the relevant law enforcement body for investigation.

The Charity Commission provides a range of guidance to help charity trustees understand their legal duties and requirements, as well as how to make decisions in the best interests of their charity.

The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, including in Morocco and Western Sahara, and consistently urges all states to uphold international law and international human rights standards. We regularly make this clear to the parties. On 1 June, the Foreign Secretary endorsed Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the Western Sahara conflict. In that context, we continue to support the parties and the UN to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise, which conforms with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of respect for self-determination.

We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to be respected around the world. 196 States have ratified the Conventions and have obligations to respect and adhere to their provisions. Our Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva met Swiss Government officials in December to discuss their plans to convene a meeting of High Contracting Parties. We are considering how to engage in preparations for the meeting, and await further information on its scope, objectives and timing.

We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law (IHL), including the Geneva Conventions of 1949, to be respected around the world. International Humanitarian Law provides the minimum level of compliance required by parties to armed conflict. However, parties to the Geneva Conventions can choose, as the UK does, to implement policy that goes beyond these legal obligations, providing greater protection for civilians during war. Promoting IHL compliance is the cornerstone of UK humanitarian policy, as is evidenced by our activities recorded in the UK Voluntary Report on the Domestic Implementation of IHL.

The UK recognises the right of British nationals with more than one nationality to serve in the legitimately recognised armed forces of their additional nationalities. This includes the Israel Defence Force.

Anyone who travels to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return to the UK. Decisions on prosecutions are taken independently by the police and Crown Prosecution Service on a case-by-case basis.

It is our position that Israel retains obligations as the Occupying Power in Gaza. Although after 2005 there was no permanent physical Israeli presence in Gaza, given the significant control Israel had over Gaza's borders, airspace and territorial waters, Israel retained obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. In situations of occupation, international humanitarian law expressly requires the occupier, to the fullest extent of the means available to it, to ensure the food and medical supplies of the population of the occupied territory. We expect Israel to fulfil its obligations and for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law.

It is our position that Israel retains obligations as the Occupying Power in Gaza. Although after 2005 there was no permanent physical Israeli presence in Gaza, given the significant control Israel had over Gaza's borders, airspace and territorial waters, Israel retained obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. In situations of occupation, international humanitarian law expressly requires the occupier, to the fullest extent of the means available to it, to ensure the food and medical supplies of the population of the occupied territory. We expect Israel to fulfil its obligations and for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law.

The UK has a strong track record of supporting international humanitarian law, and we call on our friends and partners to do the same. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately, and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.

The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold international humanitarian law, and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately, and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.

The Prime Minister spoke to the new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to congratulate him on his election victory and are already working with the new government of Israel on the next chapter of UK-Israel relations. We continue to call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and we have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation of the Palestinian territories. I reinforced this message during my visit to Israel and the OPTs on 10-13 January.

The UK is firmly committed to ensuring access to education for all Palestinians. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation. It is essential to have a strong and thriving Palestinian education system in order to provide opportunities, economic development and hope for the next generation. I reinforced this message during my visit to a UK donor funded school facing demolition on 12 January, and urged Israel to desist demolitions and evictions which cause unnecessary suffering to Palestinians and, in all but the most exceptional of cases, violate International Humanitarian Law.

We are grateful to the Ukrainian Government's leading role in securing the release in September of five British Nationals who had been detained by Russian proxies in non-government held areas of Ukraine. Tragically, this was not the case for one of those detained, and our thoughts remain with the family of Paul Urey. We continue to call on Russia to comply with International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions, and refrain from exploiting prisoners of war and civilian detainees for political purposes.

British nationals captured by Russian forces or proxies and detained in eastern Ukraine must be treated in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, including the Geneva Conventions. This applies to those who were fighting as part of the Ukraine Armed Forces and therefore considered as prisoners of war, and civilians who are protected persons under International Humanitarian Law. The Government is clear that responsibility for the treatment of any foreign nationals detained in separatist-controlled areas of Ukraine lies with Russia, and we will hold them to account.

The UK Government is in regular contact with the Ukrainian Government at ministerial, military and diplomatic levels. The UK, at all times, supports and promotes the letter and the spirit of the Geneva Conventions, and we would expect any participant in any conflict to adhere to it completely, including Russia and Ukraine

The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law. Minister James Cleverly raised UK opposition to settlement expansion with the Government of Israel on 9 November. The Fourth Geneva Convention, which applies to all occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, prohibits demolitions or forced evictions absent military necessity.

The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are at the core of international humanitarian law (IHL). FCDO staff undertake training through the International Academy which includes modules on the Conventions and other aspects of IHL. More detailed training is available for those who work in this field. Additionally the FCDO undertook to produce a voluntary report on the domestic implementation of IHL, including the Conventions. This report was published on GOV.UK in 2019 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementation-of-international-humanitarian-law-at-domestic-level-voluntary-report. In response to a pledge made at the International Committee of the Red Cross Quadrennial Conference, the UK is promoting and assisting other states to produce similar reports, in conjunction with the British Red Cross, and have produced a toolkit in several languages to assist them to do so. In 2019 the UK hosted a conference at Lancaster House to mark 70 years of the Conventions and to address the challenges to compliance.