Labour responds to Trump plan to displace Palestinians and turn Gaza into ‘Riviera of the Middle East’

UK government responds to Trump's plans to relocate Palestinians out of GazaReuters

Transcript

00:00We would oppose, Mr Speaker, any effort to move Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will.

00:13There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.

00:19Palestinian civilians should be able to return to and rebuild their homes and their lives.

00:24That is a right guaranteed under international law.

00:28Gaza is home to two million Palestinians and remains an integral part of what must become a future Palestinian state

00:34with Palestinians living next to Israelis in peace and security.

00:39The US have played a critical role in negotiating the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas alongside Qatar and Egypt.

00:47As members may know, the Prime Minister reiterated this in his call with President Trump.

00:51We must now work together to ensure the ceasefire is implemented in full and becomes permanent.

00:57The UK is investing in the ceasefire by doing all we can to support the surge in aid that is needed.

01:02Alongside our existing support on 28 January, I announced a further £17 million in funding

01:08to ensure healthcare, food and shelter reaches tens of thousands of civilians

01:13and to support vital infrastructure across the occupied Palestinian territories and neighbouring countries.

01:18We are also concerned, Mr Speaker, at the expansion of the Government of Israel's war aims and operations in the West Bank.

01:25Stability is essential at this crucial time.

01:28We recognise Israel's right to defend itself from the continuing threat posed by armed groups

01:33but it must show restraint and ensure the scale and conduct of its operations are commensurate to the threat posed.

01:39Civilians must be protected and the destruction of civilian infrastructure minimised.

01:44The UK remains opposed to illegal settlements, their expansion and settler violence.

01:49In conclusion, Mr Speaker, our attention must now turn to how we secure a permanently better future

01:55for the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, grounded, to reiterate the point a final time, in a two-state solution.