Recommendation 21

HM Government · verbatim extract Deferred

The Government agrees with this recommendation. A reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential to long-term stability in the region and making progress towards a two-state solution. The UK offers its full support to President Mahmoud Abbas, who recently visited the UK on 8 September, and Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa as the PA delivers its vital reform agenda, which includes advancing concrete measures on democratic renewal, widening civic space, enhancing accountability and transparency, improving service delivery and financial sustainability, and fighting corruption. A portion of the UK’s £116 million Overseas Development Assistance to the Occupied Palestinian Territories this financial year is being allocated to support governance reform and institutional strengthening within the Palestinian Authority in support of this reform agenda. The UK Envoy for Palestinian Authority Governance, Sir Michael Barber, is working closely with the Palestinian Authority to increase its delivery capacity. During his UK visit on 28 April 2025, Prime Minister Mustafa and the then Foreign Secretary signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), enshrining our commitment to advancing Palestinian statehood as part of a two-state solution. Conclusions and recommendation 22–24 22. This Committee did not inquire directly into the role of UNRWA, and as such does not make any conclusions here. (Conclusion, Paragraph 114) 23. Accountability through international criminal courts will be fundamental to peacebuilding and the future after this conflict has ended. The courts must be involved in information gathering so that, whenever this conflict ends, decisions can be made. (Conclusion, Paragraph 122) 24. In April 2025, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee visited Ukraine, where they saw the work of the Global Rights Alliance collecting evidence of acts during the conflict for potential future legal processes. This is supported by the UK Government and is a commendable project. The UK Government should offer its support, including its expertise and contacts, to set up a similar project in Gaza to preserve and record evidence on both sides of the conflict. (Recommendation, Paragraph 123) The Government partially agrees with this recommendation. The UK has consistently called on all parties to comply with international law in Palestine and agrees with the committee on the importance of accountability. We have been clear that we respect the independence of the international courts and have supported the courts in their important work. In May this year, the UK participated in the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Israel’s obligations as an Occupying Power and as a member of the UN, putting forward strong support for UNRWA and the ICRC. In relation to the conflict in Gaza, we have called for independent investigations into incidents where there are reports of breaches of international humanitarian law and accountability for those found responsible, including at the UN Security Council. The Government welcomes the Committee’s commendation of the work in Ukraine. With US and EU partners, the UK launched the Atrocity Crimes Advisory group (ACA) in May 2022 as a co-ordinating mechanism to support Ukraine’s domestic investigations and prosecutions of core international crimes. The Government does not agree that this particular model would work in the context of Gaza, given the lack of a state partner or structures to work with on the ground and the challenges of access.