Hague: Israel must end the blockade
Tuesday, 1 June 2010 5:30 PM
By Ian Dunt
The foreign secretary has joined the growing chorus of criticism of Israel's strike against an aid shipment with a demand for the blockade of Gaza to end.
The foreign secretary has joined the growing chorus of criticism of Israel's strike against an aid shipment with a demand for the blockade of Gaza to end.
In his most internationally significant statement since becoming foreign secretary, Mr Hague reiterated the government's view that it "deeply deplored the loss of life" and insisted David Cameron had made those points "very strongly" to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr Hague said the incident underlined the need for Israel to respect UN resolution 1860, which insisted on unfettered access for aid and commercial goods to Gaza.
Gaza was been under an Israeli blockade since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.
Mr Hague is just the latest UK politician to demand an end to the blockade.
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg called the blockade "unjustified and untenable".
Former foreign secretary David Miliband said: "Israeli has a right to self-defence but it wasn't defending itself in this case. It was defending a failed policy of siege of Gaza.
"You'll remember that resolution 1860 in January 2009, which was British-sponsored and brought the Gaza war to an end, insisted that all arms shipments into Gaza were ended but also that humanitarian aid was massively increased for the one and a half million people living in really awful conditions there. That hasn't happened."
The UN said it "deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries" and demanded a "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent" inquiry into the attack on the aid ship.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister deplored the heavy loss of life off the coast of Gaza.
"He reiterated the UK's strong commitment to Israel's security, but urged Israel to respond constructively to legitimate criticism of its actions, and to do everything possible to avoid a repeat of this unacceptable situation."
At least nine people were killed when Israeli commandos stormed the boat as it approached Gaza to deliver aid from Turkey.
Ron Prosor, Israeli ambassador, said: "It's obvious, and I won't beat around the bush on this, that, you know, this wasn't successful and I think it clearly took up an issue that should have been solved differently."
Mr Hague confirmed today that he knew of 31 Brits in Israeli custody as a result of the raid and that they had been granted consular access. It is unclear how accurate that figure is at present.
Around 1,000 demonstrators protested outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington yesterday, forcing police to close ships nearby. The demonstration was replicated in capital cities across the world, most notably in Turkey, normally an ally of Israel, which has been leading the chorus of international condemnation.
The UN statement, which followed all-night negotiations over language, was subject to a tussle between America and Turkey.
The US, a strong ally of Israel, wanted the language watered down, including the removal of a direct condemnation of Israel and references to an international investigation.
It also wanted the removal of passages referring to the blockade of Gaza. Egypt announced this afternoon it was opening its Rafah border crossing with Gaza with immediate effect.
Shortly after the statement was released the Israeli military said that several militants crossed from Gaza and exchanged fire with Israeli troops. Two were reported to have been killed.
Yesterday, an American activist was reported to have lost an eye after she was shot in the face with a gas canister by an Israeli troop during a demonstration against the raid.
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