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Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Alicia Kearns, is drilling down on key issues of the Israel-Hamas war, and asks what the UK’s legal position is with regard to whether or not the Gaza Strip is occupied by Israel.
Lord David Cameron replies: “Our position is that Israel is fighting a campaign against Hamas. We have to check regularly whether that is in compliance with international humanitarian law and assess that.
“I don’t think Israel regards itself as an occupying force, but whether that is correct, I would want to take legal advice.”
He says it feeds into the issue of aid for Palestinians, and says: “I think Israel needs to do more, a lot more, to get more aid into Gaza.”
Ms Kearns jumps in and tells the foreign secretary that, under British law, Gaza is considered to be occupied territory and asks him to confirm it for the record.
Lord Cameron replies: “I don’t know the precise legal definition of that – I’d have to go back and check.”
Ms Kearns then turns to Sir Philip Barton, the top civil servant in the Foreign Office, and says: “I think we all know that the Foreign Office does know what the official legal position is.”
Ms Kearns was a long time Foreign Office official before becoming an MP.
Sir Philip says the use of the term “occupied Palestinian territories” is a descriptor, rather than a legal position, and says written advice should be provided.
The chair pushes the pair on the issue, and Lord Cameron says that whether Gaza is occupied in law is not relevant as it is in actuality occupied currently by Israeli military forces.
“Therefore, when it comes to the issue of aid delivery, we need them to do more,” he adds.
He notes there are “bottlenecks” elsewhere, such as in Egypt, with aid delivery to Gaza, but adds: “Fundamentally, there are some things the Israelis need to do because, ultimately, they have a lot of responsibility for what is happening in Gaza.”
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