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