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Proceeding contribution from Patricia Ferguson (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 9 July 2026. It occurred during Backbench debate on Israeli Settlements: Trade Ban.


Israeli Settlements: Trade Ban

I absolutely agree with the hon. Member. I know that there have been such examples in Gaza, too. I raised that in a Westminster Hall debate almost two years ago, and I was reassured by the Minister that none of those drones are being produced in this country, which is at least a start.

It is also clear that sexual violence is being used as a method of intimidating and humiliating women and girls in Palestinian villages. Some 70% of displaced families cite sexualised violence as the decisive reason for leaving their homes. Some 41 new settlements in the west bank were approved in 2025, and smaller unauthorised outposts are becoming an increasing feature on the landscape. Let us be clear: the settlements we are talking about are an integral part of the Israeli economic system. European imports of settlement products outweigh imports from Palestine, and we cannot as a country allow that situation to continue.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
789 c546 
Session
2026-27
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Gaza Occupied territories Palestine West Bank Trade Violence Sanctions Humanitarian situation Israeli settlements
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on hansard.parliament.uk