UK foreign secretary David Cameron avoids calling Gaza an “occupied” territory

David Cameron sparked strong reactions on social media since yesterday as he avoided questions on Gaza and Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.

The UK Foreign Secretary appeared before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday for the first time since he was re-appointed to government.

The former Prime Minister was questioned in particular by the Chair of the Committee, Tory MP Alicia Kearns, on his knowledge of British and international law regarding Gaza.

The UK has been referring to Gaza, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights as the “Occupied Palestinian Territories” since 1967, according to legal definitions by both the International Court of Justice and the UN, which consider Israel as an occupying power.

Yet Cameron said that he’d “have to go back and check” before calling Israel an occupying power and referring to Gaza as “occupied”.