Israel and the OPTs: Minister for the Middle East Statement
Minister for the Middle East statement to Parliament on UK sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich
With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
The two-state solution is in peril.
Catastrophic conflict in Gaza鈥�
and a shocking deterioration in the West Bank.
This is an affront to the rights of Palestinians鈥�
but is also against the interests of Israelis鈥�
against their long-term security and their democracy.
Today, I will update the House on new actions we are taking鈥�
to uphold human rights鈥�
and defend the vision and viability of two sides living side-by-side in peace. 聽
Mr Speaker, 2024 saw the worst settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank in the last two decades.
2025 is on track to be just as violent.
Between 1996 and 2023, an average of seven illegal settler outposts were established annually.
In 2024, settlers erected 59.
These outposts are illegal under both Israeli and international law.
Two weeks ago, the Israeli government itself announced 22 new settlements in the West Bank.
Every outpost鈥�
every building the settlers erect鈥�
is a flagrant breach of international law鈥�
and disregards the views of Israel鈥檚 partners.
There are now in excess of five hundred thousand settlers living in the West Bank鈥�
and over 100,000 in East Jerusalem鈥�
the territory that must form the heart of a sovereign, viable and free Palestine.
Mr Speaker, the sharp growth in settlements alone is dangerous enough.
But it has been accompanied by a steep rise in settler violence and extremist rhetoric.
Itamar Ben-Gvir has led seven provocative intrusions into Haram Al Sharif/Temple Mount since 2022.
In 2023, settlers rampaged through the village of Huwara鈥�
in what Israel鈥檚 own West Bank military commander described as a 鈥減ogrom done by outlaws鈥�.
Last month, the villagers of Mughayyir ad-Deir fled their homes in fear after the construction of an illegal outpost 100m away.
This month, settlers attacked the town of Deir Dibwan鈥�
setting fire to houses and injuring residents.
This violence and rhetoric is deeply concerning.
An assault not just on Palestinian communities鈥�
but on the very fundamentals of a two-state solution.
An attempt to entrench a one-state reality, where there are no equal rights.
The two-state solution remains the only viable framework for a just and lasting peace鈥�
I know it is supported on every side of this House.
Israelis living in secure borders鈥�
recognised and at peace with their neighbours鈥�
free from the threat of terrorism.
Palestinians living in their own state鈥�
with dignity and security鈥�
free of occupation.
Mr Speaker, we are steadfastly committed to defending that vision鈥�
not just with words, but with action.
That is why we have pledged 拢101m in additional support to the Palestinian people this year.
Why we are working to strengthen and reform the Palestinian Authority鈥�
Why My Right Honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary signed a landmark agreement with Prime Minister Mustafa鈥�
and why my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister welcomed him to Downing Street.
Why we are clear that Hamas must release the hostages immediately and unconditionally, and that Hamas can have no role in Palestinian governance.
Why we are committed to working with civil society 鈥� Israeli and Palestinian 鈥� to support those who believe in peace and coexistence.
However, Mr Speaker, the gravity of the situation demands further action.
The reality is that these human rights abuses鈥�
incitement to violence鈥�
the extremist rhetoric鈥�
comes not just from an uncontrolled fringe鈥�
but from individuals who are Ministers in this Israeli government.
We have to hold them to account and protect the viability of the two-state solution.
And so today, we are sanctioning Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir鈥�
acting alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway鈥�
who have also announced their own measures today.
These two men are responsible for inciting settler violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank鈥�
violence which has led to the deaths of Palestinian civilians and the displacement of whole towns and villages.
This violence constitutes an abuse of Palestinians human rights.
It is cruel and degrading鈥�
and completely unacceptable.
We have told the Israeli Government repeatedly that we would take tougher action if this did not stop.
It still didn鈥檛.
The appalling rhetoric has continued unchecked.
Violent perpetrators continue to act with encouragement and impunity.
So let me tell the House now鈥�
when we say something, we mean it.
Today, with our partners鈥�
we have shown the extremists we will not sit by while they wreck the prospects of future peace.
Mr Speaker, our actions today do not diminish our support for the security of Israel and the Israeli people.
The agendas of these two men are not even supported by the majority of Israelis鈥�
Israelis recognise that these individuals are not working in their interest.
As the Foreign Secretary said to this House last month鈥�
we want a strong friendship with Israel based on shared values and our many close ties.
Our condemnation of Hamas, a proscribed organisation鈥�
and the appalling attacks of October 7th is unequivocal.聽聽
Our commitment to Israel鈥檚 security and future is unwavering.
We will continue to press for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza鈥�
the release of the hostages still held so cruelly by Hamas鈥�
a ramping up of aid to those Gazans in desperate need.
The repeated threats by Hamas to the lives of the hostages are grotesque鈥�
and prolongs the agony of their families and loved ones.
Hamas should release all the hostages immediately and unconditionally.
Mr Speaker, the situation in the West Bank cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza.
Extremist rhetoric advocating forced displacement of Palestinians鈥�
denial of essential aid鈥�
the creation of new Israeli settlements in the Strip鈥�
is equally appalling and dangerous.
This Government will never accept the unlawful transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza鈥�
nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic.
While Israel鈥檚 ground and air operations expand, Gazans have been pushed into less than 20% of the territory.
Hospitals have been destroyed and damaged.
Gaza鈥檚 entire population is at risk of famine.
Meanwhile, Israel鈥檚 newly introduced measures for aid delivery endanger civilians and foster desperation.
They are inhumane.
The Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah reported last week that it has responded to an unprecedented five mass casualty incidents in the two weeks prior鈥�
in each case, Palestinians have been killed or injured trying to access aid sites in Gaza.
Desperate civilians who have endured twenty months of war should never face the risk of death or injury simply to feed themselves and their families.
We need further action from the Israeli government now鈥�
to lift all restrictions on aid鈥�
to enable the UN and aid partners to do their work鈥�
and to ensure food and other critical supplies can reach people safely wherever they are.
We will continue to support the UN and other trusted NGOs as the most effective and principled partners for aid delivery.
Our support has meant over 465,000 people have received essential healthcare鈥�
640,000 have received food鈥�
and 275,000 people have improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services.
We support the efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
And we welcome France and Saudi Arabia鈥檚 initiative to chair an international conference later this month to advance a two-state solution.
Mr Speaker, it is a two-state solution that is the only way to bring the long-lasting peace that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve.
But it must not remain an empty slogan鈥�
repeated by generations of diplomats and politicians鈥�
but increasingly divorced from the reality on the ground.
Mr Smotrich said there is no such thing as a Palestinian nation.
Mr Ben Gvir has spoken of his rights in the West Bank鈥�
a territory his government is occupying鈥�
as more important than the rights of millions of Palestinians.
Their own words condemn them, Mr Speaker.
To defend those Palestinians鈥� rights鈥�
to protect the two-state solution鈥�
to see Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in safety and security鈥�
this Government is taking action.
I commend this statement to the House.