Transcript-

Toby Perkins: Thank you very much Madame Deputy Speaker

Israel’s conduct in this war is not just an attack on the people of Palestine. It is an attack on the international rules-based approach, it is an attack on the international community, it is an attack on the United Nations.

Given that, and whilst I absolutely accept that the Minister is right to say that this Government is doing more than its predecessor did,  can he specify, given that the current policy of the UK government is not to have sanctions, even against occupied territory products, why is that the policy of the government at this moment?

Whatever is under review, why is that the policy of the government at this moment and does he agree with me that it is an attack on all of those institutions, not just on the people of Palestine?

Minister: I thank my honourable friend and East Midlands colleague for the question.

So first, on the question of international law, this government has been clear, we stand for a rules based international order and where anyone, whatever our relationship with them, takes steps to undermine that order, they undermine the safety and security of British nationals and many others and we are clear with the Israelis and with others where we are concerned that there are breaches of international humanitarian law.

In relation to the occupied Palestinian territories, I would reintegrate, our position about the status of those territories, which is consistent with UN security council resolutions, we have put sanctions on those operating in those territories, both where they are conducting illegal settlements and where they are perpetuating horrific violence against Palestinians in the OPT and we will continue to keep these measures under review.