25 Feb
Question
Palestinians in Gaza: US Policy

The parliamentary session on US policy towards Palestinians in Gaza featured a robust discussion marked by pointed inquiries and critical perspectives on recent measures and historical context. The debate was primarily centered on the implications of President Trump's proposal concerning the relocation of Palestinians, as well as the broader context of the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis in Gaza. Speakers expressed collective concern over forced displacement and questioned the UK's stance on supporting or opposing US strategies in the region. Concerns over the humanitarian roles of organizations like UNRWA and the UK Government's financial commitments to them also took center stage.

Outcome

While no immediate policy changes were declared, the discourse reinforced the UK's opposition to forced displacement and highlighted bipartisan support for a negotiated two-state solution. The session underscored the UK's diplomatic engagements with international partners and stressed the importance of humanitarian aid.

Key Contributions

Neil Duncan-JordanMP
Labour

Questioned the Foreign Secretary on the UK Government's assessment of President Trump's proposal to move Palestinians from Gaza to Arab states.

Mr LammyForeign Secretary

Emphasized the UK's opposition to forced displacement and underscored the need for a two-state solution.

Mr Richard HoldenConservative MP
Conservative

Questioned the rationale behind UK financial support to UNRWA amidst allegations of Hamas association and hostages being held at their facilities.

Andy SlaughterLabour MP
Labour

Critiqued Israeli tactics in the West Bank and called for the UK Government's response to UN advisory opinions.

Shockat AdamInd MP
Independent

Criticized the US and Israeli governments' actions and accused them of ethnic cleansing and war crimes.

Priti PatelShadow Foreign Secretary
Conservative

Addressed hostage situations in Gaza and questioned ongoing UK actions against Hamas control.

Original Transcript
Neil Duncan-Jordan
Poole
Lab
Question
UIN: 902800

1. What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of President Trump’s proposal to move Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring Arab states.

The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Mr David Lammy
11:34

We do not support forced displacement of Palestinians or any reduction in the territory of the Gaza strip. Palestinians must be able to live and prosper in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

That is why it is essential that we work together to ensure that all aspects of the ceasefire are implemented and that it becomes permanent.

Neil Duncan-Jordan
11:35

It is very sad that the past month has marked a new and horrifying phase in the long history of attempts to ethnically cleanse the Palestinian people from their homeland.

President Trump’s recent comments calling for Palestinians to be expelled from their homes in Gaza, in order for the US to take over the land, along with his failure to rule out Israeli annexation of the west bank, constitute the most explicit denial of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination by any US Administration to date.

Will the Foreign Secretary therefore condemn President Trump’s remarks and set out what action the UK Government are taking to prevent further forced displacement of the Palestinian people?

Mr Lammy
11:36

This House has watched with horror the loss of life in the Gaza strip particularly and the plight of the hostages held in bunkers under Gaza. The US played a pivotal role, and all credit should go to President Trump for brokering that negotiated ceasefire agreement.

I am thankful for the role that the Israeli Government, Qatar and Egypt played in getting to that ceasefire.

It is our belief, and this is a cross-party belief, that there should be a negotiated two-state solution: a sovereign Palestinian state, which includes, of course, the west bank and Gaza, alongside a safe and secure Israel.

Mr Lammy
11:37

I think we were all pleased to see Emily Damari emerge; of course, we have been in touch with the Damari family. As the right hon.

Gentleman would expect, we have also been in touch with UNRWA —the Minister for Development raised this issue with Mr Lazzarini directly—which has instigated an investigation.

Andy Slaughter
Hammersmith and Chiswick
Lab

The Israeli forces are now using the same tactics in the west bank as they used in Gaza: the forced displacement of communities and the use of heavy weapons against civilians. What is the Government’s response, both to Israel and to the UN? Is it not time that we responded to the advisory opinion?

Mr Lammy

My hon. Friend raises a serious issue. As I have said repeatedly from the Dispatch Box, I condemn the expansion and the violence that we have seen over the last period, and I reject the calls for the annexation of the west bank.

I met Tom Fletcher of the UN recently to discuss these very same issues, and renewed our commitment to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs—that humanitarian work is important.

Of course, at this time I have been in touch with the Israelis and with Prime Minister Mustafa as we discuss these issues together.

Shockat Adam
Leicester South
Ind

Back on 17 October 2023, when the first hospital in Palestine was bombed, the al-Ahli Arab hospital, much conversation was had about who could have committed such a heinous crime.

Since then, the Israeli army has destroyed all medical facilities in Gaza, and now we have a President of the United States using gangster-style intimidation to forcibly remove Palestinian people from their land.

Will the Foreign Secretary—who has repeatedly refused to call out the Israeli Government for the war crimes they are committing, refused to ban all arms sales, refused to acknowledge that a genocide is happening and refused even to consider economic sanctions, because £6.

1 billion is too high a price to pay—accept the reality of the situation and accept that Trump and Netanyahu’s plan proposes ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people in Gaza?

Mr Speaker

We are well under time, but I just need to get other Members in.

Mr Lammy

We are in the first phase of a ceasefire that we want to hold and go to phase 2. That is the issue I was discussing with Arab leaders last week at the Munich security conference.

The Quint group are working with President Trump to get to that third phase and the governance issues that will be so important, with the Palestinian Authority involved in Gaza.

Mr Speaker
00:00

I call the shadow Foreign Secretary.

Priti Patel
Witham
Con

My thoughts continue to be with the hostages held in Gaza and the appalling suffering they and their families are facing. The world has seen the brutality inflicted by the Iranian-sponsored terrorists, Hamas, who are a major obstacle to bringing about a sustainable and just peace in the middle east.

The Foreign Secretary has previously agreed that there cannot be any future whatsoever for Hamas controlling Gaza. Can he provide an update on the actions he has undertaken to put an end to Hamas control and ensure we get to the third phase of the ceasefire?

Will he discuss this issue when he goes to America with the Prime Minister to meet the President of the United States?

Mr Lammy

I can confirm that I discussed this issue with Ron Dermer from the Israeli Government last week. I discussed this issue with Arab leaders—the so-called Quint—the week before. In the end, we cannot have a Gaza run by Hamas. All roads lead back to Hamas.

I think the world has looked with horror at the scenes of armed men wearing bandanas, seeming to glorify murder and hostages who have been held. Of course, we will act with international colleagues to make sure that Hamas have no role to play in the future of Gaza.

All content derived from official parliamentary records