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Select committee: International Development Committee

2nd Report – Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

HC 373 Published 17 January 2025

International Development Committee Report on parliament.uk ↗

Recommendations and conclusions 16

  1. 1
    Israel has killed many thousands of civilians across Gaza, while arrest warrants, including the charge... Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    Israel has killed many thousands of civilians across Gaza, while arrest warrants, including the charge of using starvation as a method of warfare against Gazan civilians, have been issued in respect of prominent Israeli politicians. The Committee awaits judicial resolutions on these matters. There is a danger that delays in applying full diplomatic pressure until the International Court of Justice has adjudicated on whether Israel’s actions in Gaza are genocidal or not may mean that many more civilians will die in the interim. (Conclusion, Paragraph 20)
  2. 2
    The Government must detail how it intends to take immediate action to halt the attacks... Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government must detail how it intends to take immediate action to halt the attacks on Palestinian civilians and lands, notwithstanding its respect for judicial rulings on the matter. The Committee expects the Government to detail how it intends to do so in its response to this Report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 21)
  3. 3
    Israel’s policies and practices, including forcible evictions, considered by the International Court of Justice in... Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    Israel’s policies and practices, including forcible evictions, considered by the International Court of Justice in its Advisory Opinion to be contrary to the prohibition of forcible transfer under the Fourth Geneva Convention, weaken the likelihood of a viable Palestinian state. (Conclusion, Paragraph 31)
  4. 4
    Following the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, the Government must use the... Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    Following the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, the Government must use the correct term of “forcible transfer” and not describe the removal of Palestinians from their land in the West Bank as “displacement”. (Recommendation, Paragraph 32)
  5. 5
    The Government must work with international allies to demand an end to Israel’s forcible transfer... Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government must work with international allies to demand an end to Israel’s forcible transfer policy and to seek legal redress for Israel’s actions at the relevant international courts. This must include accountability for those settlers who illegally encroach on Palestinian lands, the bodies running the settlements and the politicians and figures in authority who support, encourage and authorise those settlers to do so, in line with the sanctions introduced by the Government of Canada. (Recommendation, Paragraph 33) 19
  6. 6
    If UNRWA is prevented from undertaking its crucial functions and no replacement is arranged, the... Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    If UNRWA is prevented from undertaking its crucial functions and no replacement is arranged, the humanitarian situation across Gaza and the West Bank will deteriorate rapidly, possibly irreparably, and will almost certainly lead to further conflict and increased displacement. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41)
  7. 7
    The Government must do it all it can to ensure that UNRWA is permitted to... Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government must do it all it can to ensure that UNRWA is permitted to continue to deliver its mandate. Should Israel press ahead with the ban, the UK Government must work with international allies to pressure Israel to lay out immediately its plans to deliver all services currently supplied by UNRWA. (Recommendation, Paragraph 42)
  8. 8
    Because of the UK’s historic ties to the region, the Government must lead on a... Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    Because of the UK’s historic ties to the region, the Government must lead on a co-ordinated motion at the United Nations that sets out clear and enforceable consequences should Israel undermine the UNRWA mandate. (Recommendation, Paragraph 43)
  9. 9
    Israel continues to decry in public any potential investigation or ruling by international courts, giving... Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    Israel continues to decry in public any potential investigation or ruling by international courts, giving the impression that it does not pay due regard to international law. (Conclusion, Paragraph 48)
  10. 10
    The Government must set out immediately the steps it will take, in line with global... Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government must set out immediately the steps it will take, in line with global allies, to ensure that Israel is held accountable for any ongoing breaches of international humanitarian law. (Recommendation, Paragraph 49)
  11. 11
    The Government must set out how it intends to work with the international community to... Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government must set out how it intends to work with the international community to bring an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. (Recommendation, Paragraph 50)
  12. 12
    The Government, in partnership with its allies, must demand that Israel abides by its obligations... Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    The Government, in partnership with its allies, must demand that Israel abides by its obligations under the Geneva Conventions and customary international law and facilitates access to detainees for officials of the International Committee of the Red Cross. (Recommendation, Paragraph 51)
  13. 13
    UK Governments of all colours have postponed the recognition of a Palestinian state. Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    UK Governments of all colours have postponed the recognition of a Palestinian state. We are concerned, because of Israel’s ever-expanding settlements in the West Bank, that this recognition is becoming impossible to achieve. (Conclusion, Paragraph 54)
  14. 14
    The Government must set out the steps it will take to recognise the state of... Recommendation · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Recommendation (the committee's words)
    The Government must set out the steps it will take to recognise the state of Palestine, including conditions that need to be met and a timeline of planned actions. (Recommendation, Paragraph 55)
  15. 15
    Israel’s threats of terminating correspondent banking relations are unacceptable and significantly reduce the confidence and... Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    Israel’s threats of terminating correspondent banking relations are unacceptable and significantly reduce the confidence and stability of the West Bank economy. (Conclusion, Paragraph 59) 20
  16. 16
    The UK Government must work with allies to exert further pressure on Israel to put... Conclusion · addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Conclusion (the committee's words)
    The UK Government must work with allies to exert further pressure on Israel to put correspondent banking relations on a more stable footing. (Reommendation, Paragraph 60) 21