STEPHEN WRITES EXCLUSIVELY ON THE MIDDLE EAST HUB
Last month, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Minister responded to an Urgent Question regarding the UK’s assessment of the likelihood of genocide in Gaza.
The UK convened a meeting of the UN Security Council in response to the intolerable civilian suffering and humanitarian need in Gaza. Israel’s denial of aid is appalling. Tonnes of food are currently sitting rotting at the Gaza-Israel border, blocked from reaching people who are starving. Israeli Ministers have said Israel’s decision to block this aid is a pressure lever. This is cruel and indefensible. The killing of yet more Palestinians in Israeli strikes must end.
I am clear. Israel must stop and change course immediately. With our allies, UK Ministers are telling the Israeli Government to lift the block on aid entering Gaza and enable the UN and humanitarians to save lives now. We need an immediate ceasefire now. Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool or military tactic, and I will not support any aid mechanism that seeks to deliver political or military objectives or that puts vulnerable civilians at risk.
The International Court of Justice case on genocide is ongoing. I support the ICJ and its independence. I support the provisional measures it issued, and Israel has an obligation to implement them. It is the UK Government’s long-standing position that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent court, not for Governments or non-judicial bodies. I know the UK is fully committed to upholding its responsibilities under domestic and international law, and we have at all times acted in a manner consistent with our legal obligations, including under the Genocide Convention.
The devastation from this conflict must end. The Government’s complete focus is on lifting Israeli restrictions on aid, on freeing the hostages, on protecting civilians and on restoring the ceasefire. I support the Government as it works urgently with allies and partners on further pressure to make Israel change course.
Stephen Timms, June 2025