Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex) (Con): May I welcome the clear but restrained way in which the Foreign Secretary dealt with this very difficult matter? May I ask him a very precise question: has it not been clear for a long time now that the blockade of Gaza is illegal? Does it not therefore amount to cruel and unusual punishment, and is it not contrary to all international law and the Geneva convention?

Mr Hague (Foreign Secretary): The argument that I make is that, whatever the arguments about the blockade's legality, it is unwise-it does not achieve its objective. In a practical world, it is not the right thing for Israel to do. No doubt, the Government of Israel would make a different legal argument from that of my hon. Friend: they maintain that the blockade is lawful because they are acting in their own self-defence. Therefore, the thing that they must be persuaded of is that the blockade does not serve their security interests and that a change of policy is urgently required.

House of Commons 

Wednesday 2nd June 2010

Hansard Volume 510 No 8 

Col 444 - 445