(Lab):...Of
today’s major and emerging foreign policy crises, the vast
majority—from Ukraine, Sudan, Syria, Israel and
Palestine to Myanmar and Xinjiang—are driven by violent targeting
of civilian groups based on their identities. If left unchecked,
the global propellants of prejudice and inequality, climate
collapse, the retreat from liberal democracy, and the great
changes in technology, as we see in social media and so on, mean
that identity-based mass atrocity crimes will multiply over the
next decade. Of that I am sure. We are already seeing it
happening...
...It is commonly said that armed conflicts are a precursor to
the commission of mass atrocity crimes, but in fact it is not
always that way round. Indeed, during the many human rights
crises of the modern age, mass atrocities often came first and
caused armed conflict to break out. For example, mass atrocities
drove armed conflict in Yugoslavia in the 1990s and failures to
adequately respond to mass atrocities against the Rohingya in
Myanmar in 2017 emboldened the Tatmadaw, contributing to their
seizure of power in February 2021 and the ensuing civil war. The
current conflict between Hamas and Israel follows decades
of terrible conduct, by both the IDF and Hamas, before, during
and after 7 October. We are now seeing the consequence of that in
the current crisis in Gaza...
(Lab):...My noble
friend raised current events in Gaza, which clearly continue to
cause grave concern. We are clear about the need to avoid a Rafah
offensive, and instead to secure an immediate humanitarian
ceasefire. I know what efforts we have taken at the United
Nations; I hope the Minister can give us an up-to-date report. We
discussed this week that Gaza is on the brink of famine, and I
have repeatedly stressed that Israel must comply
with the ICJ’s interim measures. I hope the Minister can provide
us with an update on the status of the negotiations that we know
are carrying on at the moment...
The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development
Office () (Con):...The
latest update is that there has been a lot of diplomacy.
Secretary Blinken has embarked on a tour of the Middle East,
partly in conjunction and in parallel with UN Security Council
resolutions. As I came into this Chamber, a lot of work had been
done overnight to get countries in the right place.
Unfortunately, the resolution by the United States calling for an
immediate ceasefire was vetoed by Russia and China. We must
continue to find a way to get agreement in this space. Noble
Lords will be aware of Secretary Blinken being in Cairo. He is in
Israel today. I will be
travelling to Egypt next week as part of our continuing
diplomatic efforts not only to bring an end to the immediate
conflict but for a resolution based on peace, justice and equity
for Israelis and Palestinians alike. All noble Lords have
expressed views on the importance of the two-state solution
for Israel and Palestine side by
side in peace and justice...
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