Is Israel’s government listening? British minister won’t say if her country’s views are ignored

A senior British minister has refused to say whether she thought the Israeli government listened to UK complaints over its actions in Gaza and its ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

Anneliese Dodds, the International Development Minister, told MPs she had raised concerns with Israeli ministers about the ban on UNRWA to be introduced at the end of this month, but could not say if the UK government had been heard.

Her comments followed those of Middle East minister Hamish Falconer, who told parliament there was now disagreement between the two countries over Israel's actions in Gaza, where about 45,900 civilians have been killed, Palestinian health authorities estimate.

After a vote in the Israeli Knesset last year, all contact will be banned with UNRWA. The UN body provides the vast majority of aid to Gaza but Israel claims its staff have links to Hamas.

Ms Dodds told MPs she had raised the issue in long conversations with Israeli government figures that the ban “must not be implemented”.

“It goes against the UN mandate ... we are deeply concerned about this situation,” as there was no alternative to UNRWA, she told a hearing of the international development committee.

She was then asked three times by committee chairwoman Sarah Champion if she thought the Israeli government was listening to the UK government.

Ms Dodds answered “we must see a change in position” and said there was “considerable concern” in Israel over the ban but would not say if she thought the government had listened to her position.

During an urgent question on the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Mr Falconer was asked if he thought Israel’s actions in Gaza merited Britain expelling the country’s ambassador.

“It is tempting to think that if only we had representatives more to our taste politically, then things would be easier,” Mr Falconer responded. “Clearly, there is a disagreement between the British and Israeli governments about the conduct of the war in Gaza and the humanitarian implications that flow from it.”

Tzipi Hotovely, the right-wing Israeli ambassador in London, has made several controversial comments since the October 7 attacks, allegedly using genocidal language and ruling out a two-state solution.

An urgent question on Gaza was requested by Layla Moran, an MP with a Palestinian mother, who made an impassioned speech about the situation, quoting a British-based medic and family friends in Gaza.

Ms Moran raised an incident in which the doctor’s brother and son had gone 10 metres from their home en route to an aid centre when they were struck by a bomb from a drone, killing the youngster.

“It feels like they're living in The Hunger Games, dodging drones, scavenging for the basics. Even if they wanted to leave, how can they?” she said.

“People in Gaza are trapped in a doom-loop of hell. Hospitals decimated, ceasefires promised and never delivered. And so I press the government again, is this really everything the UK has got? Have we deployed everything to make this stop?”

Other MPs lamented that it was clear whatever was said in the British parliament, and indeed in Washington, had little impact or influence on the Israeli government’s actions. “Thoughts and prayers are just not enough,” lamented one MP.

Kit Malthouse, the former Conservative cabinet minister, called on the ministers to resign in protest. “If he is ashamed … why aren’t they standing down and compelling the government to actually do something?” he said.

Mr Falconer said he would not take “lessons about shame“ from the previous government.