Extracts from Women and
Equalities questions
(West Bromwich East)
(Con): Last week, I co-hosted an event here in Parliament with a
delegation from Israel who have first-hand
experience of the aftermath of 7 October. They described innocent
women, dead or alive, who had been raped by terrorists.
Hamas desecrated their bodies and even
booby-trapped them. Those acts of sexual violence must be
condemned by every institution and individual who cares about
women’s rights.
The Minister for Women and Equalities (): I thank my hon. Friend and
her co-chair for organising what was for attendees an extremely
difficult meeting. We heard the harrowing accounts of witnesses
and family members of young girls who were kidnapped on 7
October, and we heard from the first responders who found the
bodies of women and girls of all ages with obvious signs of
sexual violence. Female soldiers were found naked with nails and
sharp objects shoved into their vaginas. One told of a mother he
found with her hands tied behind her back, naked and bleeding
from the waist down, shot in the back of the head, and with a
live grenade left in her hand for whoever found her body.
We must support the courage of those witnesses in giving that
harrowing testimony about Hamas’s mass-scale
perpetration of sexual violence on 7 October. We cannot be silent
about these atrocities. We must ensure that the world does not
forget that sexual violence shatters lives and devastates
communities. The UK stands in solidarity with survivors and
continues to call for the release of the remaining hostages.
Topical
Questions
(Cumbernauld, Kilsyth
and Kirkintilloch East) (SNP): If she will make a statement on
her departmental responsibilities.
The Minister for Women and Equalities (): In the light of some of
the commentary about the employment tribunal’s judgment in the
case of Professor Miller and Bristol University, I want to
clarify the fact that antisemitism must continue
to be challenged wherever it arises. We have seen people in this
country use their views on Israel as an excuse
to display antisemitism. We have seen that in
protests on our streets, and also in our universities. It is
therefore important to stress that this ruling does not change
the fact that while academics have the right to express views,
they cannot behave in a way that amounts to harassment of
Jewish students. Disguising that as discourse
about Israel would be no more lawful than any
other form of antisemitism. The Government will
consider the ruling carefully, and we will continue to do all in
our power to protect Jewish people throughout
our country.
(Bedford) (Lab): Will the
UK Government redouble their efforts to ensure that the
humanitarian needs of women and girls in Gaza
are being addressed, in line with the UK’s commitments under the
international women and girls strategy, the women, peace and
security national action plan, and the international development
White Paper?
: I am working closely with
the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on this issue.
We are very concerned about the events taking place in both
Israel and Gaza and we want to see the violence
end. The hon. Gentleman will know about all the work we have been
doing on preventing sexual violence in conflict, for example, and
we will continue to do everything we can to minimise any impact
on women and girls.
Extract from
PMQs
(Putney) (Lab): Last
week, the Foreign Secretary said that, with allies, we will look
at the issue of recognising a Palestinian state,
so that the Palestinian people
“can see that there is going to be irreversible progress to a
two-state solution.”
Afterwards, it was briefed that these words had not been signed
off by No. 10. Does the Prime Minister agree with his Foreign
Secretary?
The Prime Minister: Our long-standing position has been that we
will recognise a Palestinian state at a time
that is most conducive to the peace process. The most important
thing is that we are committed to that two-state solution and are
working with our allies to bring it about.
