"the Spirit of Humanity"

– in the House of Commons at 10:13 pm on 13 July 2009.

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Motion made, and Question proposed, That this House do now adjourn. -(Mary Creagh.)

Photo of Emily Thornberry Emily Thornberry Labour, Islington South and Finsbury 10:16, 13 July 2009

"The Spirit of Humanity" sailed from Larnaca, Cyprus at the end of June, attempting to get to Gaza seaport and sailing under a Greek flag. There were 21 passengers and crew on board, from 11 different countries, including six British people. One of these last was my constituent, Miss Alex Harrison, who lives on the Marquess estate. In the early hours of 30 June, while they were still in international waters, they were surrounded by Israeli gunboats and threatened with being fired on. Their radar and communications systems were jammed and they were warned hourly that they must change course because, "You are headed for a blockaded area. All force necessary will be used." Lights were flashed at them throughout the night and, when they were 24 miles from Gaza, Zodiac boats appeared and then left again.

About four miles into Gaza's waters, the boats reappeared-six boats with 12 soldiers in each, wearing full-face balaclavas. They boarded the boat and all the passengers lay on the floor. My constituent, as a member of the crew, was still standing and was pushed to the floor at gunpoint.

Photo of Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn Labour, Islington North

I am pleased that my hon. Friend has secured this debate. Can she confirm that what the Israeli navy was doing at that point was totally illegal under international law? It was stopping an unarmed civilian vessel that was well known to be carrying humanitarian aid, and that is a contravention of international law.

Photo of Emily Thornberry Emily Thornberry Labour, Islington South and Finsbury

It would seem that that is the case, and I shall ask the Minister to confirm that.

It took seven hours for the boat to get into the port of Ashdod, where those on board were greeted by hundreds of jeering Israeli soldiers. The crew and passengers were held for between one and seven days, charged with illegally entering Israel and deported. That was ironic, because Israel was the last place they wanted to be. They wanted to go to Gaza-and Gaza as part of a Palestinian state. They were trying to publicise what has been happening in Gaza recently, and I shall outline some of those events.

As hon. Members know, Gaza is a small coastal strip, cut off from the outside world. Even before the latest hostilities, drastic restrictions on the movement of people and goods were imposed by the Israeli authorities, especially since October 2007. Those have led to worsening poverty, rising unemployment and deteriorating public services such as health care, water and sanitation.

When the eyes of the world were on Gaza, in the immediate aftermath of the military action by Israel, it was hoped that the tunnels would be closed and the crossings would be opened, and that Gaza might have a chance. However, six months later, after the hostilities had finished and the eyes of the world had looked away, restrictions on imports continued. It is impossible for Gazans to rebuild their lives. The quantities of goods now entering Gaza fall well short of what is required to meet the population's needs. According to the International Red Cross, in May 2009, only 2,662 truckloads of goods entered Gaza from Israel, a decrease of almost 80 per cent. compared with the 11,392 truckloads allowed in during April 2007 before Hamas took over the territory.

Photo of Lynne Jones Lynne Jones Labour, Birmingham, Selly Oak

In fairness, I think that the Israeli Government's stance should be expressed. I wrote to them about what had happened with "The Spirit of Humanity". They wrote back and told me that receipt of humanitarian supplies, in some cases, has led to a surplus of humanitarian aid. Does my hon. Friend recognise that situation?

Photo of Emily Thornberry Emily Thornberry Labour, Islington South and Finsbury

I rely on the International Committee of the Red Cross and its excellent report, published in June, which gives an up-to-date assessment of what is happening in Gaza. Of course, it is always difficult to get access to information on which everyone can rely, but surely no one can argue with the ICRC on the issue. For example, it states that

"water and sanitation services could collapse at any moment" in Gaza, which

"raises the spectre of a major public health crisis."

It goes on to say:

"The only way to address this crisis is to lift import restrictions on spare parts, water pipes and building materials such as cement and steel so that homes can be rebuilt and vital infrastructure maintained and upgraded."

Terrible stories are coming out about health care. One of the people suffering as a result of the restrictions is a woman whose case is highlighted by the ICRC, who has a pancreatic tumour. She is only 26, her name is Do'aa, and she has been waiting since January 2009 for permission to travel through Israel to get to Jordan for an operation. She has so far been refused, and she is likely to die.

Those who wish to get out of Gaza in order to get health care, because there is not sufficient and adequate health care in Gaza for those who have terrible conditions, find themselves caught in a bureaucratic maze. They request permission to leave the territory, which is incredibly complicated, and they find themselves waiting for many months. Many of them die. For those who do get permission to leave, even getting through the crossing can be very arduous. Patients on life support machines are

"removed from ambulances and placed on stretchers, then carried 60-80 metres through the crossing to ambulances waiting on the other side."

Patients who can walk unassisted often

"face extensive questioning before they are allowed through the crossing for medical treatment-or, as sometimes happens" they are simply refused entry into Israel and turned back again.

The economy is strangled; there is soaring unemployment and alarming poverty. We simply have to allow Gaza to breathe. Local industry, agriculture, fisheries and other businesses have not been allowed to rebuild, to import essential inputs or to export their products, but even that would take time. The crisis has become so severe and entrenched that even if all the crossings were to be opened tomorrow it would take years for the economy to recover.

We must end the virtual blockade of Gaza. The crossing points must be opened and the legitimate security concerns of the Israelis have to be balanced with the right of Palestinians to live normal and dignified lives. Re-establishing humanitarian aid is really only the international community pleading to be allowed to put sticking plasters on to Gaza. What the people of the region need, more than anything else, is political courage. They need a political solution that will give peace and security to the people of Israel and Palestine.

Photo of Gerald Kaufman Gerald Kaufman Labour, Manchester, Gorton

My hon. Friend is describing an intolerable situation perpetrated by the Israeli state. Is it not a fact that her constituent and mine, who were on board "The Spirit of Humanity", were trying to alleviate that inhumanity but were the victims first of piracy by the Israeli navy and then kidnapping by the Israeli army?

Photo of Emily Thornberry Emily Thornberry Labour, Islington South and Finsbury

Again, on the face of it that would seem to be accurate. I would welcome the Minister's comments on that point. Will he give me an update on whether Her Majesty's Government agree that those people were, at the very least, harassed in international waters? Given the wholly disproportionate nature of the Israeli military operation in Gaza in January, will the Government reassess whether it is appropriate to sell arms to or buy arms from Israel? Finally, what hope is there for Gaza?

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) 10:24, 13 July 2009

I congratulate my hon. Friend Emily Thornberry on securing this debate. She is obviously concerned about the fact that her constituent, Miss Alex Harrison, was on the "Spirit of Humanity" when these incidents occurred. It is important to say that helping to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza is a high priority for the Government; equally important is working towards a long-term, sustainable and peaceful settlement in the middle east.

I want to provide an update regarding the vessel "Spirit of Humanity", which the Free Gaza Movement non-governmental organisation, as my hon. Friend has said, attempted to sail from Cyprus to Gaza. The UK appreciates and shares the concerns expressed by many individuals and organisations, including the Free Gaza Movement, about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Current travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises clearly against all travel to Gaza, including to the waters off Gaza, but we recognise that there is a need for access by major international organisations, including those based in the UK, to carry out humanitarian and reconstruction work in Gaza and to engage in the independent reporting on, and verification of, the situation on the ground.

Photo of Martin Linton Martin Linton Labour, Battersea

I am glad that my hon. Friend says that the Government share the concern of such bodies about what has happened to the "Spirit of Humanity", but will he not go further and say that it is an example of the way in which the Israeli Government believe that they have some kind of dispensation to flout international law, not only by harassing ships in international waters but by building settlements and walls on occupied land and by blockading people in Gaza?

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

I will go on to deal with the specific issues to do with the "Spirit of Humanity" in a moment, but the Government have made it very clear that we believe that the cessation of illegal settlements is an absolutely crucial starting point for the peace process. We welcome the recent speech by the President of the United States in Cairo, in which he made that point. Progress on settlements is fundamental to any progress with regard to the peace process, but I want to return to the "Spirit of Humanity". I also want to make the point that those who want to go to Gaza should co-ordinate their entry and exit with major international organisations and should not attempt to enter Gaza without approval from the Israeli or Egyptian authorities.

As my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury has said, the Israeli navy took control of the "Spirit of Humanity" on 30 June and diverted it to Ashdod port in Israel. The Israeli navy handed all those on board, including the six British nationals, to Israeli immigration officials, who then placed them in detention.

Photo of Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn Labour, Islington North

Surely the Minister has skipped over something. There is an issue about the legality of the Israeli navy's action in apprehending a civilian vessel in international waters. If he is accepting Israel's control of the waters off Gaza, that is surely accepting the occupation.

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

I will come to my hon. Friend's point in a moment.

Photo of Andrew Pelling Andrew Pelling Independent, Croydon Central

The constituent of Emily Thornberry was educated in my constituency and her parents live in Croydon. They expressed concern to me that Alex Harrison was detained for 23 hours without food and water by the Israeli authorities, and I wonder whether the Minister has any information on that. Her parents also expressed concern that the FCO, although admittedly contacted late at night, was fairly unhelpful for quite a long time in terms of responding to them about her treatment and, indeed, in its attitude to the incident in question.

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

I can deal with that point directly. Officials at the British embassy in Tel Aviv confirmed that they were given good access to the British nationals and that all the British nationals with whom they had contact confirmed that they were treated well during their detention. So that seems to be at odds with the hon. Gentleman's contribution.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the incident directly with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, on 1 July. The Israeli authorities then deported the British nationals on 6 July, and as hon. Members are aware, they are now back in the United Kingdom.

Photo of Paul Rowen Paul Rowen Shadow Work and Pensions Minister

The Minister wrote to me last week about the issue. When the Foreign Secretary met the Israeli Foreign Minister, did he protest at the interception of a civilian vessel in international waters?

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

My right hon. Friend sought clarification of the series of events that took place, and I shall go on to talk about where the vessel was intercepted. My right hon. Friend raised that issue directly with the Israeli Foreign Minister. We have raised that issue directly with the Israeli Government. At this stage in terms of reporting back to the House, we are unable to confirm whether the vessel was intercepted in international waters or in Gazan waters. Whatever the situation, it is clear that all states must respect international law, including the law of the sea.

Photo of Lynne Jones Lynne Jones Labour, Birmingham, Selly Oak

The Israelis' view is that they were enforcing international agreements, which means that they have responsibility for what they do in response to external threats, and the Israeli-Palestinian interim agreement on the west bank and Gaza strip means that foreign vessels may not approach closer than 12 nautical miles from the coast. Is that the Foreign Office's view of the situation?

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

As I have tried to say to hon. Members, we have sought clarification from the Israeli Government about where the ship was and what, in international law, was the appropriate course of action. We still seek that clarification, but it is absolutely clear from the point of view of the UK Government that the Israeli Government must act consistently with international law, and that must apply in terms of the laws of the sea. We have raised this matter with the Israeli Foreign Minister; we have sought clarification and we await further information. I am not able to give the House any further information on that particular incident this evening.

Photo of Lynne Jones Lynne Jones Labour, Birmingham, Selly Oak

The information that the Israeli Government have given to me is that they intercepted the "Spirit of Humanity" in Gazan waters, not in international waters, so does Israel have the right to intercept vessels in that location?

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

As far as I am aware, although there may be a debate about whether that is appropriate, it is not in itself a breach of international law. The accusation that is being made about this intervention is that it in some way contravened international law. If the vessel was in Gazan waters, people may have a political debate about whether that action was appropriate, but it would not have breached international law.

Photo of Gerald Kaufman Gerald Kaufman Labour, Manchester, Gorton

There is an argument about whether the vessel was in international waters, and certainly my constituent has made it clear that, from his point of view, it was. Setting that aside, is it not bizarre as well as obnoxious that the Israelis should abduct all those on that ship into a country that they had no intention of visiting and then deport them from it?

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

I hear my right hon. Friend's view of the situation. We have sought to clarify with the Israeli Government why they felt the need to take this action and whether it was consistent with international law, taking account of not only their security concerns but the desire of people to get humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. That is the position of the UK Government. My right hon. Friend is entitled to his opinion, but the information that we have at our disposal means that, at this stage, we do not share it.

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

We have sought clarification about what took place, where it took place and what conditions prevailed at the time. We will continue to seek that clarification. We have made it clear to the Israeli Government that, as ever, we expect them to behave in a way that is consistent with international law. We also respect the fact that the Israelis have a right to take reasonable measures to protect the security of their citizens and their border.

Photo of John Martin McDonnell John Martin McDonnell Labour, Hayes and Harlington

The Minister is giving the impression that Israel can act with impunity and that we are relying on Israel itself to give us the information on which we can make a judgment. I suggest that we need an independent investigation into this matter. British citizens were detained and, as my right hon. Friend Sir Gerald Kaufman said, they were taken to a country that they did not wish to visit and then deported from it. In any other circumstances and with any other country we would be taking diplomatic action.

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

I do not agree with my hon. Friend. He claims that I have suggested from the Dispatch Box that Israel should be able to act with impunity when I have said throughout my contribution that Israel has a responsibility to act consistently with international law. We have sought clarification from the Israeli Government as to whether, on this occasion, they acted consistently with international law in where they intercepted the vessel. We shall continue to seek further information. How that implies impunity, I am not sure.

Photo of Paul Rowen Paul Rowen Shadow Work and Pensions Minister

Whatever might be said about Israel's security arrangements-they are a matter for Israel-and given that the ship was unarmed, when the Minister gets a statement from the Israeli Government, what action will he propose that the British Government should take to ensure that, in future, unarmed vessels trying to deliver aid to Gaza are not impounded in such a way?

Photo of Ivan Lewis Ivan Lewis Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office)

I have made it clear that we expect individuals and organisations who seek to get aid to Gaza to do so in consultation with the appropriate authorities. We advise that that is the best way to proceed if organisations and individuals genuinely want to get humanitarian aid through to the people of Gaza. I will not give a running commentary on what the United Kingdom may do in circumstances that may prevail at some stage in future; that would not be appropriate in this debate. I shall make some progress now.

We are very concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. We know that the conflict earlier this year intensified an already difficult situation. It is true that the pace of deterioration has slowed since the ceasefire in January, but it is evident that the humanitarian situation remains extremely serious. The strict border restrictions, including on legitimate aid, reconstruction materials, trade goods and the movement of people, are having a major impact on the lives of ordinary Gazans, who suffer serious hardship. Approximately 90 per cent. of Gazans depend partly on food aid. During May, according to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the number of truckloads of goods allowed entry into Gaza was approximately 2,960. However, that is not enough; it represents less than a quarter of the monthly average of truckloads that entered Gaza in the first five months of 2007, before the tightening of the border restrictions in June of that year. We are concerned that those restrictions, and Hamas's control of the economy and the smuggling tunnels, mean that the people of Gaza are being denied hope, access to the means to rebuild their lives, and the chance of economic growth and education.

Although there is no permanent, physical Israeli presence in Gaza, Israel retains significant control over Gaza's borders, airspace, and territorial waters. It therefore retains obligations under the fourth Geneva convention. The convention is clear that an occupying power must co-operate in allowing the passage and distribution of relief consignments. It is therefore essential that the Government of Israel ease the restrictions on the Gaza border and allow an immediate increase in the flow of essential aid and reconstruction materials into Gaza, as well as the legitimate flow of trade, goods and people. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the United Kingdom's concerns on that general issue in his meeting with the Israeli Defence Minister, Ehud Barak, on 6 July, and in his conversations with the Israeli Foreign Minister-I referred to one of those conversations-which took place on 13 May and 1 July.

Together with the European Union, the United States, and the wider international community, we will continue to press the Israeli Government at the highest levels to reduce the restrictions, but Israel is not the only party that should move. Hamas must renounce violence, recognise Israel, accept previous agreements, and work with the Palestinian Authority towards a positive outcome in the current national dialogue negotiations presided over by Egypt. Hamas must also release Gilad Shalit, whom it kidnapped and has held illegally for more than three years without contact with his family, or access for the Red Cross. As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated on the third anniversary of Gilad Shalit's abduction on 25 June, we call on Hamas for his immediate, unconditional and safe release. We share the Shalit family's dismay at Hamas's refusal to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross access to Gilad.

In conclusion, I plan to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories in the summer. I intend to develop my first-hand experience, as a Minister who is new in this role, of the challenges faced by both Israelis and Palestinians. I shall take the strong message that the United Kingdom intends to pursue a leadership role in securing a two-state solution in the middle east. The recent speech by President Obama in Cairo gives us a new sense of hope and a way forward. We welcome the fact that Prime Minister Netanyahu has for the first time acknowledged that the two-state solution was the objective. However, there is a long way to go, in terms of the Israelis' willingness to move on settlements. We also believe that the Arab peace initiative offers a promising basis for future negotiations.

Question put and agreed to.

House adjourned.