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Middle East: International Law

Question for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UIN 118624, tabled on 4 February 2022

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Amnesty International citing human rights abuses against Palestinian civilians, published 1 February 2022, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure international law is upheld in the Middle East.

Answered on

25 February 2022

We do not agree with the use of this terminology. Any judgment on whether serious crimes under international law have occurred is a matter for judicial decision, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. As a friend of Israel, we have a regular dialogue on human rights. This includes encouraging the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and do all it can to uphold the values of equality for all. Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is a human rights priority for the FCDO.

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