Hamas Proscription

I will never forget the appalling events of October 7th, 2023. I thoroughly condemned that atrocity and continue to do so now. The brutal and inexcusable attacks by Hamas on innocent civilians in Israel shocked the world. Over 1,200 lives were cruelly taken, hundreds more were injured, and more than 250 people were abducted. These were not acts of resistance: they were acts of terror.

The suffering of the hostages and their families continues. However, they would have been released by now if Netanyahu respected the ceasefire and didn’t continually seek to use them as a pretext for his slaughter of the Palestinian people. I continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and the return of the bodies of those who have tragically died in captivity. Hamas must remain a proscribed terrorist organisation. Its actions are incompatible with the values of peace, justice, and human dignity.

We know that military might alone will not bring peace. The continued murderous campaign by the Netanyahu regime against innocent Palestinians by the IDF is wholly disproportionate and must end. A just and lasting peace can only be achieved through diplomacy, dialogue, and a commitment to international law. I have and will continue to urge the UK Government to redouble its efforts in support of a two-state solution, so that both Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and security.

I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision to offer conditional recognition of a State of Palestine, though later than I would have hoped. This is not a reward for violence, but a necessary step toward a fair and balanced peace process. Recognition would offer hope to millions of Palestinians and affirm their legitimate right to self-determination.

To that end, the government must work with international partners to support democratic renewal in Palestine. Elections must be held as soon as practicable, with the aim of uniting Gaza and the West Bank under a single, representative, and peaceful leadership, free from the influence of Hamas.

We must also confront those who fuel conflict from afar. The Iranian regime’s support for Hamas and other extremist groups is well documented. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as a state-sponsored exporter of terror, should be proscribed as a terrorist organisation. Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has recommended this step. Proscription of the IRGC would send a clear message: the UK will not tolerate the funding and promotion of terrorism.

This is a time for moral clarity and political courage. We must stand firm against terror, but also stand up for peace, justice, and the rights of all people in the region.