UK parliamentary committee urges action on Gaza

AP, Wednesday 6 Aug 2014

Britain
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (Photo: Reuters)

British Prime Minister David Cameron is coming under increased pressure over his government's policies on Gaza, after a cross-party parliamentary committee urged him to press Israel to lift restrictions on trade and travel in the territory.

The Commons International Development Committee says travel and trade curbs on Gaza's people are not "proportionate" and that some are contrary to Israel's obligations under international law.

The committee on Wednesday called on Britain to "encourage Israeli authorities to lift those restrictions which are not justified by security needs."

Cameron is under fire for his support of Israel.

Disputes within his Conservative Party were laid bare Tuesday when a prominent member of Cameron's camp, Sayeeda Warsi, resigned as Foreign Office minister in protest of what she called Cameron's "morally indefensible" stance on Gaza.

A fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip entered a second day Wednesday as Israeli and Palestinian delegations prepared for crunch talks in Cairo to try to extend the 72-hour truce.

The ceasefire, which came into effect Tuesday, has brought relief to both sides after one month of fighting killed 1,875 Palestinians and 67 people on the Israeli side.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online


 

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