Israel ‘ought to’ turn water back on in Gaza, David Cameron says

Israel “ought to” turn the water back on in Gaza, David Cameron has told the foreign affairs select committee.

Appearing before the committee for the first time since his return to government, Lord Cameron said one of the issues Britain wants Israel to look at is “switching the water back on” in northern Gaza.

Pressed over whether Israel had breached international law, Lord Cameron refused to say whether he had been advised by officials that it had.

“I can't recall every single bit of paper that's been put in front of me,” Lord Cameron said.

Committee chairman Alicia Kearns asked the foreign office’s permanent under-secretary Sir Philip Robert Barton whether switching off the water in an occupied territory was against international law.

“Yes,” Sir Philip said.

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[billhicks]

'I'm not a lawyer'. How many politicians have said that over the past 3 months when challenged on Israel's war crimes in Gaza? (I'm losing count).

[EnglishAcademy]

Expecting Cameron to answer questions without being able to refer to the notes provided to him by Israel is unfair.

[marionanderson]

As a rep for the UK in the Middle East, Cameron ought to know. Its time to stop making excuses for the brutal seige conditions

[fireflieswishes]

imagine debating whether people deserve water

[peterkilbridge]

It's illegal in the US to deny prisoners water. Just sayin'...

[kassamhassan]

The fact that it’s come to these people sitting there deciding if a country should have water or not is what’s wrong with the world

[Markj]

They don't even want to admit Palestinians have a legal right to water from their occupiers.

[abdulquayum]

Total its embarrasing, Cant even answer a basic moral question.

[beatonthedonis]

Not "must" but "ought to".

[ritchybinoo]

Oh come on Cameron! Dude, it's none other than YOU that described Gaza as an "Open Prison"! Remember!? And now you stutter & stammer to answer the simplest of questions, "Isn't it obligatory for Israel as an Occupying Power not to cut off water to Gaza?"!

[kernboucher]

As a South African 😂 i guys got yourself in knots defending the indefensible 😂...

[okregvq]

jeez, how long did it take for that highly learned man to answer: should human being have access to water?

[basmalahfatimah]

... the strongest words in his Eton vocabulary

[Bill-edhr]

Thank you Mr Cameron. So the children of Gaza really need water? I wonder what will you do if the situation is turned around and Gaza turned off the water on Israel. Will you just say it or will you send all your warships to make sure it is done immediately?

[MrLoftusjj]

The BIG question is, how does the civilised World manage a raging, fearful, out-of-control imperialist west staring into the abyss of moral, political, and financial collapse?

[hebagally]

People and children are dying in Gaza and there are daily arrests in the West Bank
Netanyahu's massacres have not yet been punished
There is no benefit from the United Nations resolutions or mediations, as it continues to annihilate this people
If support for him does not stop, he must be condemned until it stops

[BrodaPaul]

We live in a world where there is no shame in lying now. Its just accepted.

[ddmripp]

um yeah so so so um yeah ...he became a stutterer

[thepodbaydoorshal]

“I’m not a lawyer.” Then get legal advice. You’re a powerful politician. What do we pay you for? Also you’re not a lawyer, but quick to dismiss accusations of gen.0.cide against Isra.hell. How does that work?

[thomasdolan]

His performance make you wonder why he was appointed to the post, how he ever became PM and, how long will it be before he's replace by someone equally unsuitable.