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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

5 items
7 Conclusion 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict Deferred

Recognise the state of Palestine now, in support of a two-state solution.

The Committee agrees with the position taken by successive UK Governments, that the two-state solution is the only possible positive outcome in this conflict. The UK, along with France—the co-signatory of the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement—should now recognise the state of Palestine while there is still a state to recognise. An … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response did not address the recommendation to recognise the state of Palestine, instead focusing on the UK's established position on Israeli settlements and related economic activities.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
11 Conclusion 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict Deferred

Government has halted trade talks with Israel until a peace settlement is agreed.

The Government has halted trade talks with Israel and further progress on the 2030 Roadmap and we expect that to continue until an internationally- recognised peace settlement has been agreed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64)

Government response AI summary
The government notes the conclusion and states its clear position that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law, and goods from them are not entitled to trade preferences. It advises against economic involvement in settlements, but does not explicitly confirm or deny the halting of …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
13 Recommendation 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict Deferred

Extend sanctions to all businesses operating within illegal Israeli settlements in West Bank.

The Committee welcomes the sanctions that the Government has imposed on illegal outposts and violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Until these settlements are curtailed and the violence ends, these sanctions should be sustained and extended to all businesses operating in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The Committee … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response for this recommendation (Paragraph 77, concerning sanctions and the ICJ Advisory Opinion) instead addresses a different recommendation (Paragraph 84) regarding encouraging other countries to normalise relations for a two-state solution.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
21 Recommendation 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict Deferred

Support the Palestinian Authority in building its capacity for the Palestinian people and donors.

As institution-building is an area where the UK has expertise, the Government should support the Palestinian Authority to build its capacity, which would be in the best interests of both the Palestinian people and foreign donors. (Recommendation, Paragraph 107) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government's response for this recommendation (Paragraph 107, concerning capacity building for the Palestinian Authority) instead addresses a different recommendation (Paragraph 123) regarding support for evidence collection for international criminal courts in Gaza.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
22 Conclusion 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict Deferred

Committee made no conclusions regarding the role of UNRWA.

This Committee did not inquire directly into the role of UNRWA, and as such does not make any conclusions here. (Conclusion, Paragraph 114)

Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees (with an unstated recommendation), discusses its consistent call for compliance with international law and accountability, and its support for UNRWA at the ICJ. It then states a particular model for atrocity investigations would not work in Gaza.
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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