Labour MP David Taylor has spoken out against a report on Israel by the International Development Select Committee, of which he is a member.

Although the report does not directly accuse Israel of committing genocide in its war against Hamas, it claims that “there is a plausible risk that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza may have included grave violations of international humanitarian law, which has given rise to accusations of genocide”.

Published on Friday, it also calls on the government “to set out further details and a timeline for the recognition of a Palestinian state”.

Taylor, who represents Hemel Hempsted, was the sole member of the International Development Select Committee to object to the report and vote against it, with two Conservative members of the committee abstaining and the remainder of MPs backing the report.

In a statement, Taylor said he was “disappointed” that he was unable to support the report, despite the fact he agreed with much of it, including: “the condemnation of Hamas' evil attack on October 7; the demand for the hostages to be returned; concerns around the potential implications of the Netanyahu government’s actions for International Humanitarian Law; the lack of aid access in Gaza; and the illegal settlements in the West Bank.”

He proposed two amendments to the report, which were both rejected.

The first related to “concerns about the International Development Committee’s purview”, Taylor said in a statement.

He sought to remove the words “which has given rise to accusations of genocide” from the final text in the report, but his suggestion was rejected by MPs.

Labour MP David Taylor with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner (Image: David Taylor/X).

Taylor questioned “whether the committee is equipped to make interventions on legal matters”, he said, adding: “We did not hear from witnesses with a legal background. We do not possess legal expertise. I believe we must leave legal matters to those in that field.”

The second amendment related to the committee’s call on the government to provide a timeline for recognition of a Palestinian state.

This position contrasts with Labour’s stated aim of recognition only as part of a peace agreement with Israel.

“I agree it is right that the UK will recognise a Palestinian state at a time when it best serves the objective of peace, i.e. as part of a renewed peace process. My proposed amendment was to this effect”, Taylor added.

The MP, who won his seat from the Conservatives at last year’s general election, said that he was “relieved that since this report was written, a ceasefire deal has been reached. We now need to see all hostages released and an end to the bombing to prevent further loss of civilian life.”

Prior to becoming an MP, Taylor worked for former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and founded the Labour Campaign for International Development.

The JC revealed that, during a debate on Syria last year following the fall of the Assad regime, he heckled Jeremy Corbyn after the former Labour leader failed to mention the deposed Syrian president and instead criticised Israel.

The Select Committee’s report also said that the government “must do all it can” to protect the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians (UNRWA). 

Israel’s Knesset voted to curtail the group’s activities last year, accusing the agency of employing terrorists involved in the October 7 atrocities as well as encouraging hate towards Israelis.

Committee Chair Sarah Champion MP said: “Israel’s proposed ban on UNRWA would prevent aid distribution in Gaza, devastate Palestinian livelihoods and send disruptive ripples throughout the Middle East.”

It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was criticised for giving more money to UNRWA in December last year.

Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson’s former Downing Street chief of staff, accused the Labour leader of spending “taxpayers money to fund Hamas”.

Israeli political figures across the political spectrum have expressed opposition to UNRWA.

In an interview with the JC, the former leader of Israel’s Labour Party Merav Michaeli said that “a lot of people who work in UNRWA are Hamas's people”.