British Foreign Secretary on Gaza

Via e-mail from Brendan O’Grady, Deputy Press Secretary, British Embassy, Washington DC:

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary are following developments in Gaza with grave concern. The UK supports an immediate ceasefire. The rise in rocket attacks on Israel since 19 December, and the massive loss of life in Gaza, makes this “a very dangerous and very dark moment”, as the Foreign Secretary has described it.

The deteriorating humanitarian situation is deeply disturbing. The Prime Minister has spoken to Prime Minister Olmert of Israel. We have made clear that Israel must abide by its humanitarian obligations. The UK supports the prompt and sufficient delivery of food, fuel and medicine into the Gaza Strip.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has spoken to Condoleezza Rice today, to discuss how the international community can support efforts in 2009 to secure peaceful negotiations towards the ultimate goal of a viable Palestinian state existing alongside a secure Israel.

‘Cease Hostilities’ – BBC Radio 4

Israeli air force jets have bombed the Islamic University in the Gaza Strip, a significant cultural symbol for Hamas. Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Deputy Israeli Ambassador in London Talya Lador-Fresher, discuss the origins of this current upsurge in fighting.

Earlier Foreign Secretary David Miliband warned of a “very dark moment” in the Middle East peace process as Israel continued air strikes on Gaza.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he was concerned about the impact on the chances for achieving a peace agreement and the danger the raids would radicalise more people.

“This is very dangerous and a very dark moment,” he said.