KEIR Starmer has said he is “deeply concerned” about Israeli attacks on the occupied West Bank after nine Palestinians were killed in airstrikes on a refugee camp earlier this week.
Israel has launched a major military operation in the illegally-occupied Palestinian territory since a ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza came into force on Sunday.
Independent Alliance MP Iqbal Mohamed demanded the Government provide details on what efforts it was making to “prevent atrocities” in the West Bank during Prime Minister’s Questions.
He said: "Since the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect, Israeli forces have placed the whole of the West Bank under strict military inspection as part of the Iron Wall operation. The IDF has launched a large-scale offensive operation in the city of Jenin, with numerous drone strikes on infrastructure and a military raid by IDF troops and special forces in the occupied West Bank.
“At least nine people have been killed by Israeli forces and 40 people injured, including several healthcare workers. What steps is the Government taking to urgently protect Palestinians including healthcare workers and to prevent atrocities in the West Bank?”
Mohamed also asked for the Government’s response to the International Court of Justice’s opinion from last year which said that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is illegal and which called for it to be brought to an end.
The second question was ignored by the Prime Minister.
Starmer replied: “I’m deeply concerned about what’s happening in the West Bank and we’ve raised it a number of times in the various exchanges that we’ve had but I am deeply concerned about it and we’re doing everything we can to alleviate the situation.”
Elsewhere at PMQs, Starmer refused to say whether he supports a third runway at Heathrow when asked by the Green Party.
Adrian Ramsay (above), the party’s co-leader and MP for Waveney Valley said: “Expanding London’s airports and building a third runway at Heathrow would be incredibly irresponsible in the midst of a climate emergency, flying in the face of the Climate Change Committee’s advice.
“The Prime Minister knows this because he and seven cabinet colleagues voted against the third runway at Heathrow in 2018. So, can the Prime Minister confirm what is his position now?”
Starmer said: “I’m not going to comment on speculation. He knows that we are, as a Government, we are committed to growth, we are committed to the aviation sector, and to our climate obligations.
“But I’m not going to take lectures from those who talk about climate change but oppose vital renewable infrastructure in their own constituency.”
