Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Status: Closed Opened: 25 Nov 2024 Closed: 30 Oct 2025 10 recommendations 15 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry asks how the UK and its allies can help to achieve a ceasefire and lasting end to the war in Gaza and Lebanon.

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict HC 488 25 Jul 2025 25 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
1 Conclusion 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict Acknowledged

Replace Gaza Humanitarian Foundation system with a UN-led humanitarian aid system.

The situation in Gaza and the West Bank is intolerable. Ministers and diplomats should exert every effort to reach an immediate end to the fighting, population displacement and restrictions on supplies of essentials. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) system has led to the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of civilians and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees to redouble efforts for a ceasefire, outlining ongoing diplomatic work but not committing to specific new actions. The recommendation to replace the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation system with a UN-led system is not explicitly addressed.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
4 Recommendation 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict Acknowledged

Agree and publish arbitrary detention definition, establish Envoy with clear objectives.

The Government should agree and publish a definition of arbitrary detention. In response to this report, the Foreign Secretary must outline his plans and set a firm timeline to establish an Envoy for Arbitrary Detention, which he has already promised to this Committee. He should publish the objectives for the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, committing to establishing an Envoy for complex detention cases and stating they are working at pace on the appointment, but does not provide a firm timeline or objectives. It disagrees with agreeing and publishing a definition of arbitrary detention, citing no …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
14 Conclusion 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict Acknowledged

UK is well-placed to deploy its convening power for Middle East peace processes.

While the UK is no longer a dominant power in the Middle East, it does enjoy the respect of most countries in the region. Consequently, it is well placed to deploy its convening power to bring together conflicting and diverse parties. The involvement of states in the region that have … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees, supporting regional normalisation and encouraging countries with normalised relations to participate in peace efforts. It states the UK supports broader efforts towards a two-state solution.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
15 Recommendation 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict Acknowledged

Encourage other countries to normalise relations for a two-state solution peace process.

The Government should encourage other countries to normalise relations in order to participate in a peace process for a two-state solution. (Recommendation, Paragraph 84)

Government response AI summary
The government agrees, supporting normalisation and encouraging countries with normalised relations to participate in peace efforts. It states the UK supports broader efforts towards a two-state solution.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

8 sessions
Date Witnesses
16 Jun 2025 Anna Halford · Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) UK, Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan · Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), Rohan Talbot · Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), Shaina Low · Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) View ↗
13 May 2025 His Excellency Mr Rami Mortada · Embassy of Lebanon in the United Kingdom View ↗
22 Apr 2025 Jonathan Sacerdoti, Natasha Hausdorff · UK Lawyers for Israel, Shelly Tal Meron · Israeli Knesset View ↗
11 Mar 2025 Mr Hamish Falconer MP · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Stephen Hickey · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office View ↗
27 Jan 2025 Alon-Lee Green · Standing Together, Amnon Be’eri Sulitzeanu · The Abraham Initiatives, Bassam Aramin · Parents Circle Families Forum, John Lyndon · Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), Robi Damelin · Parents Circle Families Forum, Rula Daood · Standing Together, Shahira Shalaby · The Abraham Initiatives View ↗
12 Dec 2024 Claire Clement · British Red Cross, Professor Marco Sassoli · University of Geneva View ↗
10 Dec 2024 Adam Rose · Mishcon de Reya, Adam Wagner · Doughty Street Chambers, Colonel (Retired) Miri Eisin · International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, Dr Gershon Baskin · Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI), Dr Sharone Lifschitz, Dr Victor Kattan · The University of Nottingham, H.E. Dr Husam Zomlot · Palestine Mission to the United Kingdom, Samer Sinijlawi · Jerusalem Development Fund View ↗
3 Dec 2024 Rt Hon Alistair Burt · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office View ↗

Who gave evidence

28 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Adam Rose · Solicitor and Partner Mishcon de Reya 1
Adam Wagner · Barrister Doughty Street Chambers 1
Alon-Lee Green · National Co-director Standing Together 1
Amnon Be’eri Sulitzeanu · Co-CEO The Abraham Initiatives 1
Anna Halford · Field Coordinator Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) UK 1
Bassam Aramin · Spokesperson and International Relations Manager Parents Circle Families Forum 1
Claire Clement · Director, International Law and Policy British Red Cross 1
Colonel (Retired) Miri Eisin · Senior Fellow International Institute for Counter-Terrorism 1
Dr Gershon Baskin · Co-chairman Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) 1
Dr Sharone Lifschitz 1
Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan · Paediatric Doctor Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) 1
Dr Victor Kattan · Assistant Professor in Public International Law The University of Nottingham 1
H.E. Dr Husam Zomlot · Head Palestine Mission to the United Kingdom 1
His Excellency Mr Rami Mortada · Ambassador Embassy of Lebanon in the United Kingdom 1
John Lyndon · Executive Director Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) 1
Jonathan Sacerdoti 1
Mr Hamish Falconer MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Middle Ea… Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) 1
Natasha Hausdorff · Legal Director UK Lawyers for Israel 1
Professor Marco Sassoli · Professor of International Law University of Geneva 1
Robi Damelin · Spokesperson and International Relations Manager Parents Circle Families Forum 1
Rohan Talbot · Director of Advocacy and Campaigns Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) 1
Rt Hon Alistair Burt · Former Minister of State for Middle East and Nort… Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Rula Daood · National Co-director Standing Together 1
Samer Sinijlawi · Founding Chairman Jerusalem Development Fund 1
Shahira Shalaby · Co-CEO The Abraham Initiatives 1
Shaina Low · Communications Advisor Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) 1
Shelly Tal Meron · Yesh Atid Party Member Israeli Knesset 1
Stephen Hickey · Director, Middle East and North Africa Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
28 Oct 2025 Correspondence from the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in Turkey rel…
22 Jul 2025 Correspondence from UNRWA regarding the situation in Gaza, the West Bank and Ea…
14 Jan 2025 Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to hostages held by Hamas, d…
14 Jan 2025 Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the Israeli-Palestinian c…
14 Jan 2025 Correspondence from UNRWA relating to Israel-Palestine, dated 06/01/2025