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EU's foreign chief in Gaza visit EU's foreign chief in Gaza visit
(30 minutes later)
The EU's new foreign policy chief has arrived in Gaza on one of the highest level visits there by a Western politician since Hamas took power. The EU's new foreign policy chief has arrived in Gaza on one of the highest level visits there by a Western official since Hamas took power.
Baroness Ashton's trip comes amid a new push by the EU and US to revive stalled Middle East peace talks.Baroness Ashton's trip comes amid a new push by the EU and US to revive stalled Middle East peace talks.
The international quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, US, UN and Russia - is to meet in Moscow later.The international quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, US, UN and Russia - is to meet in Moscow later.
As Lady Ashton arrived, militants in Gaza fired a rocket into Israel, killing a man, Israeli officials said.As Lady Ashton arrived, militants in Gaza fired a rocket into Israel, killing a man, Israeli officials said.
The rocket struck the Netiv Ha'assera kibbutz in southern Israel killing a foreign agricultural worker, according to reports.The rocket struck the Netiv Ha'assera kibbutz in southern Israel killing a foreign agricultural worker, according to reports.
Although militants in Gaza have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, this is the first fatality since the end of Israel's offensive there in January 2009.Although militants in Gaza have fired hundreds of rockets into Israel, this is the first fatality since the end of Israel's offensive there in January 2009.
Baroness Ashton will later join US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has already arrived in the Russian capital for the talks.Baroness Ashton will later join US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has already arrived in the Russian capital for the talks.
The meeting will "demonstrate international support" for indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians, said US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley. The Moscow meeting will "demonstrate international support" for indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians, said US State Department spokesman PJ Crowley.
Baroness Ashton swept into Gaza City from Israel in a convoy of armoured cars and was taken to a UN food distribution centre.Baroness Ashton swept into Gaza City from Israel in a convoy of armoured cars and was taken to a UN food distribution centre.
The BBC's Jon Donnison, in Gaza, says she is not expected to meet Hamas leaders during her brief visit. The BBC's Jon Donnison in Gaza says she is not expected to meet Hamas leaders during her brief visit.
The EU is the largest contributor of aid to the Palestinians, delivering 1bn euros ($1.4bn; £890m) a year.The EU is the largest contributor of aid to the Palestinians, delivering 1bn euros ($1.4bn; £890m) a year.
'Need for aid''Need for aid'
Baroness Ashton told the BBC she had come to Gaza to talk with UN agencies about the EU's input there. Baroness Ashton told the BBC she had come to Gaza to talk with UN agencies about the EU's input.
On the blockade, she said the EU had been saying "consistently to Israel there is a need to get aid through".On the blockade, she said the EU had been saying "consistently to Israel there is a need to get aid through".
She added: "We have the quartet meeting tomorrow... I know they will want to hear my impressions."She added: "We have the quartet meeting tomorrow... I know they will want to hear my impressions."
Baroness Ashton is on a regional tour that began in Cairo and also includes Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. She has held talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.Baroness Ashton is on a regional tour that began in Cairo and also includes Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. She has held talks with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
But it is her visit to Gaza which is arousing the most interest, says Jon Donnison. But it is her visit to Gaza that is arousing the most interest, says Jon Donnison.
BARONESS ASHTON Has a degree in economics from the University of LondonAwarded a life peerage by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1999Made leader of UK upper house, the House of Lords, by Gordon Brown in 2007Became EU Trade Commissioner in 2008First High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in enlarged EU Baroness Ashton profile Deadly rocket attack from Gaza
Only two European foreign ministers have come to Gaza in the past year, our correspondent notes.Only two European foreign ministers have come to Gaza in the past year, our correspondent notes.
Foreign officials are often refused entry by Israel, or their governments choose not to come because they do not recognise Hamas.Foreign officials are often refused entry by Israel, or their governments choose not to come because they do not recognise Hamas.
The visit has been welcomed by the United Nations, which says the blockade of Gaza has left hundreds of thousands in Gaza living in poverty.The visit has been welcomed by the United Nations, which says the blockade of Gaza has left hundreds of thousands in Gaza living in poverty.
The head of the UN's refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, John Ging, said the people of Gaza were hoping for a single outcome from Baroness Ashton's visit - a lifting of the Israeli siege.The head of the UN's refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, John Ging, said the people of Gaza were hoping for a single outcome from Baroness Ashton's visit - a lifting of the Israeli siege.
class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8369392.stm">Baroness Ashton profile class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8574138.stm">Deadly rocket attack from Gaza "We have to have action. A thousand days and a thousand nights of a medieval siege is far too much. It's a shame - it's a disgrace," he said.
"It's phenomenally important because people at the policy-making level have to have that first-hand experience to really unravel the complexity, and then also to see the simplicity of the plight of the people and the urgency for action," he said. On Wednesday Baroness Ashton visited Jerusalem where she met Mr Netanyahu and held a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
"We have to have action. A thousand days and a thousand nights of a medieval siege is far too much. It's a shame - it's a disgrace."
On Wednesday Baroness Ashton visited Jerusalem where she met Mr Netanyahu and held a joint press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman.
During the conference, she said she hoped that attempts by US special envoy George Mitchell to launch indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians would succeed.During the conference, she said she hoped that attempts by US special envoy George Mitchell to launch indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians would succeed.
Baroness Ashton has been criticised as too inexperienced for the new job of EU High Representative, a post created by the EU's Lisbon Treaty.Baroness Ashton has been criticised as too inexperienced for the new job of EU High Representative, a post created by the EU's Lisbon Treaty.
ViolenceViolence
Her visit comes as the US and Israel try to bridge divisions over Israeli plans for new building in occupied East Jerusalem.Her visit comes as the US and Israel try to bridge divisions over Israeli plans for new building in occupied East Jerusalem.
The Palestinians have pulled out of indirect talks because of the plan.The Palestinians have pulled out of indirect talks because of the plan.
Israel's building announcement has provoked fresh violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.Israel's building announcement has provoked fresh violence in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Mrs Clinton has described the announcement - made while US Vice-President Joe Biden was in Israel last week - as "insulting".Mrs Clinton has described the announcement - made while US Vice-President Joe Biden was in Israel last week - as "insulting".
She has made a series of demands of Mr Netanyahu - on the housing project and on showing his commitment to peace talks.She has made a series of demands of Mr Netanyahu - on the housing project and on showing his commitment to peace talks.
On Thursday Mr Crowley said that Mr Netanyahu had yet to respond. On Thursday Mr Crowley said Mr Netanyahu had yet to respond.
The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli economic blockade since 2007, when the Islamist movement Hamas took power. The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007, when the Islamist movement Hamas took power.
In 2008 Israel launched a three-week offensive against Gaza which killed more than 1,000 Palestinians and caused widespread damage to its infrastructure.In 2008 Israel launched a three-week offensive against Gaza which killed more than 1,000 Palestinians and caused widespread damage to its infrastructure.