The Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Foreign Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 25 Nov 2024 Closed: 30 Oct 2025 Parliament page
This inquiry asks how the UK and its allies can help to achieve a ceasefire and lasting end to the war in Gaza and Lebanon.
10 Recommendations
15 Conclusions
1 Report
8 Oral sessions
5 Letters
8 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
30 Oct
2025
Report published
28 Oct
2025
Correspondence
25 Jul
2025
Report published
22 Jul
2025
Correspondence
16 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
13 May
2025
Oral evidence
22 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
11 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
27 Jan
2025
Oral evidence
14 Jan
2025
Correspondence
14 Jan
2025
Correspondence
14 Jan
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 8 sessions
16 Jun 2025
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Anna Halford · Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) UK Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan · Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) Rohan Talbot · Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) Shaina Low · Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
13 May 2025
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His Excellency Mr Rami Mortada · Embassy of Lebanon in the United Kingdom
22 Apr 2025
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Jonathan Sacerdoti Natasha Hausdorff · UK Lawyers for Israel Shelly Tal Meron · Israeli Knesset
11 Mar 2025
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Mr Hamish Falconer · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Mr Hamish Falconer MP · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Stephen Hickey · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
27 Jan 2025
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Alon-Lee Green · Standing Together Amnon Be’eri Sulitzeanu · The Abraham Initiatives Bassam Aramin · Parents Circle Families Forum John Lyndon · Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) Robi Damelin · Parents Circle Families Forum Rula Daood · Standing Together Shahira Shalaby · The Abraham Initiatives
12 Dec 2024
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Claire Clement · British Red Cross Professor Marco Sassoli · University of Geneva
10 Dec 2024
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Adam Rose · Mishcon de Reya Adam Wagner · Doughty Street Chambers Colonel (Retired) Miri Eisin · International Institute for Counter-Terrorism Dr Gershon Baskin · Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) Dr Sharone Lifschitz Dr Victor Kattan · The University of Nottingham H.E. Dr Husam Zomlot · Palestine Mission to the United Kingdom Samer Sinijlawi · Jerusalem Development Fund
3 Dec 2024
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Middle East: Britain’s role in a sustainable peace
Rt Hon Alistair Burt · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict HC 488 25 Jul 2025 25 Response document linked
Recommendations & Conclusions
25 results
1 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Replace Gaza Humanitarian Foundation system with a UN-led humanitarian aid system.
The situation in Gaza and the West Bank is intolerable. Ministers and diplomats should exert every effort to reach an immediate end to the fighting, population displacement and restrictions on supplies of essentials. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) system has … Read more
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2 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Redouble UK efforts for Gaza ceasefire, hostage release, and unrestricted aid access.
The UK Government must redouble its efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza—with the release of all hostages—and an end to military activity in the West Bank. It should use its influence with the US administration to encourage the … Read more
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3 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Repeat call for immediate release of all hostages and support information collection.
The Government must repeat its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages and the bodies of those who have died in captivity. The taking, holding in captivity, torture, sexual abuse and murder of hostages is despicable … Read more
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4 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Agree and publish arbitrary detention definition, establish Envoy with clear objectives.
The Government should agree and publish a definition of arbitrary detention. In response to this report, the Foreign Secretary must outline his plans and set a firm timeline to establish an Envoy for Arbitrary Detention, which he has already promised … Read more
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5 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Israeli Government's refusal of media access to Gaza breaches international norms.
The Israeli Government’s refusal to allow media access to Gaza to report on the war is a breach of internationally recognised norms. Journalists’ work will be crucial as an informational basis for any long-term findings regarding the legality of the … Read more
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6 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Press Israeli counterparts to restore journalist access and lift media bans in Gaza.
The Committee condemns the killing of over 186 Palestinian journalists in Gaza and reiterates that Israel has a responsibility not to target journalists, who are protected under international law. While Israel has suggested that many of these may have been … Read more
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7 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Recognise the state of Palestine now, in support of a two-state solution.
The Committee agrees with the position taken by successive UK Governments, that the two-state solution is the only possible positive outcome in this conflict. The UK, along with France—the co-signatory of the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement—should now recognise the state of … Read more
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8 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Reaffirm Israel's right to defend itself amidst F-35 component licence debate.
The Government decision to licence the sale of F-35 components to Israel has been subject to ongoing dispute and difference of opinion amongst the UK public and politicians. The Committee recognises the real threat to Israel from Iran and its … Read more
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9 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Licensing F-35 components is a political decision impacting international peace and security.
Even if the Government’s decision to licence the sale of F-35 components is lawful under domestic law, the decision of whether to do so is still a political one. The Government’s decision has been taken on the basis that suspending … Read more
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10 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Require Government to explain how F-35 component exports align with UK's international obligations.
The Government should set out how allowing indirect exports of F-35 components to the global supply pool, despite the clear risk of violations of International Humanitarian Law which has been identified, is consistent with the UK’s international obligations, given that … Read more
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11 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Government has halted trade talks with Israel until a peace settlement is agreed.
The Government has halted trade talks with Israel and further progress on the 2030 Roadmap and we expect that to continue until an internationally- recognised peace settlement has been agreed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64)
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12 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Prepare comprehensive ban on import of goods from illegal Israeli West Bank settlements.
A different approach should be applied to the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; the Government should take immediate steps to prepare a comprehensive ban on the import of goods from the illegal settlements in the West … Read more
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13 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Extend sanctions to all businesses operating within illegal Israeli settlements in West Bank.
The Committee welcomes the sanctions that the Government has imposed on illegal outposts and violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Until these settlements are curtailed and the violence ends, these sanctions should be sustained and extended to all businesses … Read more
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14 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
UK is well-placed to deploy its convening power for Middle East peace processes.
While the UK is no longer a dominant power in the Middle East, it does enjoy the respect of most countries in the region. Consequently, it is well placed to deploy its convening power to bring together conflicting and diverse … Read more
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15 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Encourage other countries to normalise relations for a two-state solution peace process.
The Government should encourage other countries to normalise relations in order to participate in a peace process for a two-state solution. (Recommendation, Paragraph 84)
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16 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Initiate urgent preparations for long-term two-state resolution without waiting for ceasefire.
The UK needs to kickstart urgently the process of preparing the ground for negotiation of a long-term two-state resolution to the conflict, without waiting for a ceasefire. In doing this, it must act more boldly and bravely to leverage the … Read more
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17 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Invest in grassroots peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts in Israel and Palestine.
The UK should invest in grassroots peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories through its diplomatic network and specialist Non-Governmental Organisations, building on our experience in Northern Ireland. The Committee welcomes the Prime Minister’s plans … Read more
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18 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Stress importance of women-led organisations in peace negotiations and peacebuilding structures.
The UK Government should stress the importance of the participation of women-led and women’s rights organisations in any peace negotiations and peacebuilding structures, and should lead by example by including such groups in all events in which it participates. (Recommendation, … Read more
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19 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Lobby determinedly against proposed anti-NGO legislation impacting Israeli and Palestinian peacebuilding organisations.
The Committee is very concerned about the impact of proposed anti-Non- Governmental Organisations legislation in the Knesset that would impose an 80% tax on foreign donations to Israeli and Palestinian Non-Governmental Organisations. Such a tax would be tantamount to blocking … Read more
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20 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Participate in multilateral peace process, supporting reconstruction and UN agencies in Gaza and West Bank.
A key component of the UK’s policy in support of a two-state solution must be participation in the reconstruction of Gaza and areas of the West Bank that have been rendered uninhabitable by military action. Institution building requires physical infrastructure … Read more
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21 Recommendation
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Support the Palestinian Authority in building its capacity for the Palestinian people and donors.
As institution-building is an area where the UK has expertise, the Government should support the Palestinian Authority to build its capacity, which would be in the best interests of both the Palestinian people and foreign donors. (Recommendation, Paragraph 107) Read more
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22 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Committee made no conclusions regarding the role of UNRWA.
This Committee did not inquire directly into the role of UNRWA, and as such does not make any conclusions here. (Conclusion, Paragraph 114)
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23 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Ensure international criminal courts gather information for post-conflict accountability and peacebuilding.
Accountability through international criminal courts will be fundamental to peacebuilding and the future after this conflict has ended. The courts must be involved in information gathering so that, whenever this conflict ends, decisions can be made. (Conclusion, Paragraph 122) Read more
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24 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Offer UK support and expertise to establish a Gaza project recording conflict evidence.
In April 2025, members of the Foreign Affairs Committee visited Ukraine, where they saw the work of the Global Rights Alliance collecting evidence of acts during the conflict for potential future legal processes. This is supported by the UK Government … Read more
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25 Conclusion
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conf…
Prioritise civil and military support for Lebanon's stability, armed forces, and nation-building efforts.
The UK needs to continue its support for Lebanon, which is a vital component of stability in the Levant, situated as it is alongside Syria, with its fragile polity and its strong ties to Lebanon. The UK Government should prioritise … Read more
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Correspondence 5 letters
28 Oct 2025 Correspondence from the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs in Turkey relating to the recognition of Palestine, dated 15.10.25
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22 Jul 2025 Correspondence from UNRWA regarding the situation in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, dated 17.07.25
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14 Jan 2025 Correspondence from UNRWA relating to Israel-Palestine, dated 06/01/2025
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14 Jan 2025 Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, dated 08/01/2025 and 18/12/2024
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14 Jan 2025 Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to hostages held by Hamas, dated 08/01/2025 and 13/12/2024
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