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Time to apply pressure on Gaza – Andy McDonald MP

22nd July 2024Leave a Commenton Time to apply pressure on Gaza – Andy McDonald MP

“I ask the Government to clarify that they support the processes that will prosecute war crimes, and that the UK accepts the ICC jurisdiction over Israel and has no truck with the nonsensical legal argument that Israel is exempt from international law.”

By Andy McDonald MP

The following is an excerpt from his contribution in the House of Commons during the debate on the King’s Speech.

On foreign affairs, it is perhaps a statement of the obvious, but our foreign policy must be based on human rights and adherence to international humanitarian law.

On Gaza, I welcome the Foreign Secretary this week calling for an immediate ceasefire, for hostages to be released and for aid to reach the people of Gaza, but the question is how we will apply pressure to achieve these goals.

I very much welcome the Foreign Secretary's decision to overturn the suspension of funding to UNRWA.

But on arms sales and compliance with international humanitarian law, we urgently need the government's legal assessment – and action.

The people of Gaza cannot wait. pic.twitter.com/InlF54NN4I

— Andy McDonald MP for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East (@AndyMcDonaldMP) July 19, 2024

We must have clarity in a number of areas.

First, I urge the Government to set out how they will use all the necessary levers to achieve the ceasefire, including the end of arms export licensing. Secondly, I trust that this Government can provide the House with early confirmation of the re-establishing of direct funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

Thirdly, I ask the Government to clarify that they support the processes that will prosecute war crimes, and that the UK accepts the International Criminal Court jurisdiction over Israel and has no truck with the nonsensical legal argument that Israel is exempt from international law. We have seen that time and again.

I do not think that anybody in this House was not shaken to the core by the vision of that young man with Down’s syndrome who, having been attacked by IDF soldiers, was savaged by dogs and then bled to death. We have seen such scenes over and over, and the justification that it is okay to kill 110 people—innocent children, women and men—in the pursuit of a military target is an abomination.

Fourth, I hope the Foreign Secretary will quickly clarify the new Government’s approach to the early recognition of the state of Palestine. We need equality and fairness to resolve this crisis, and it will not be resolved without the recognition of Palestine.

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• Andy McDonald is the MP for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East. You can follow Andy on Twitter/X and Facebook.
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