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Gaza crisis 'intolerable', says Philip Hammond Gaza crisis 'intolerable', says Philip Hammond
(about 5 hours later)
The situation in Gaza is "simply intolerable and must be addressed", Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says.The situation in Gaza is "simply intolerable and must be addressed", Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says.
His comments follow a row between Ed Miliband and No 10 after the Labour leader said PM David Cameron was "wrong" not to oppose Israel's attacks.His comments follow a row between Ed Miliband and No 10 after the Labour leader said PM David Cameron was "wrong" not to oppose Israel's attacks.
No 10 said it was shocked he would "misrepresent that position and play politics with such a serious issue". No 10 said it was shocked Mr Miliband would "play politics with such a serious issue".
Meanwhile the Israeli military says a soldier reported missing in Gaza on Friday is dead. Thirty Palestinians have been reported killed on Sunday and militants have continued to fire rockets into Israel.
Hadar Goldin was believed to have been captured by militants during fighting, leading to the collapse of a ceasefire shortly after it had been declared.
'Humanitarian ceasefire''Humanitarian ceasefire'
Mr Hammond told the Sunday Telegraph the crisis in Gaza could become "an endless loop of violence".Mr Hammond told the Sunday Telegraph the crisis in Gaza could become "an endless loop of violence".
"It's a broad swathe of British public opinion that feels deeply, deeply disturbed by what it is seeing on its television screens coming out of Gaza," he said."It's a broad swathe of British public opinion that feels deeply, deeply disturbed by what it is seeing on its television screens coming out of Gaza," he said.
"The British public has a strong sense that the situation of the civilian population in Gaza is simply intolerable and must be addressed - and we agree with them.""The British public has a strong sense that the situation of the civilian population in Gaza is simply intolerable and must be addressed - and we agree with them."
He said there "must be a humanitarian ceasefire that is without conditions", adding: "We have got to get the killing to stop."He said there "must be a humanitarian ceasefire that is without conditions", adding: "We have got to get the killing to stop."
In a strongly-worded statement released on Saturday, Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron had previously been "right to say that Hamas is an appalling terrorist organisation". In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, Mr Miliband said Mr Cameron had previously been "right to say that Hamas is an appalling terrorist organisation".
"Its wholly unjustified rocket attacks on Israeli citizens, as well as building of tunnels for terrorist purposes, show the organisation's murderous intent and practice towards Israel and its citizens," he said."Its wholly unjustified rocket attacks on Israeli citizens, as well as building of tunnels for terrorist purposes, show the organisation's murderous intent and practice towards Israel and its citizens," he said.
"But the prime minister is wrong not to have opposed Israel's incursion into Gaza and his silence on the killing of hundreds of innocents Palestinians civilians caused by Israel's military action will be inexplicable to people across Britain and internationally." "But the prime minister is wrong not to have opposed Israel's incursion into Gaza and his silence on the killing of hundreds of innocent Palestinian civilians caused by Israel's military action will be inexplicable to people across Britain and internationally."
'Misrepresent position' 'Unacceptable'
A Downing Street spokesman responded: "The PM has been clear that both sides in the Gaza conflict need to observe a ceasefire. On Sunday Mr Miliband reiterated that criticism, telling the BBC the government needed to send "a much clearer message to Israel that its actions in Gaza are unacceptable and unjustifiable".
"What I want to hear from David Cameron is that he believes Israel's actions are wrong and unjustified and we haven't heard that from him."
Mr Miliband said rocket attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants "cannot excuse the scale of the loss of life of innocent Palestinian civilians including children that we are seeing".
The aim should be to "force both sides to have a ceasefire and the long-term solution we need," he said.
Downing Street said: "The PM has been clear that both sides in the Gaza conflict need to observe a ceasefire.
"We are shocked that Ed Miliband would seek to misrepresent that position and play politics with such a serious issue.""We are shocked that Ed Miliband would seek to misrepresent that position and play politics with such a serious issue."
Mr Miliband's comments follow those of former Lib Dem leader Lord Ashdown and current party leader Nick Clegg, who have both called for peace talks and an end to the violence.
Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Lord Ashdown said neither Israel nor Palestine could "blast their way to victory" and that the only way forward was for them to "sit down and talk to each other".
Deputy PM Mr Clegg, writing in the Guardian on Friday, said: "If Israel wants to secure lasting safety for its people, it must use political will, not military might, to break the cycle of violence."
He also criticised Hamas, saying it used its tunnels to "terrorise Israeli civilians".
Fresh attacks
On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had determined that Lt Goldin - thought to be have been captured by militants - had died.
Hamas had denied it was holding Lt Goldin, 23, captive, saying it did not know the soldier's whereabouts.
Confirmation of Lt Goldin's death means 66 Israelis have now died in the fighting, all but two of them soldiers. A Thai worker in Israel also died.
Some 1,700 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the conflict began more than three weeks ago.Some 1,700 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since the conflict began more than three weeks ago.
IDF's announcement came as BBC correspondents in Gaza City reported the sound of ongoing Israeli strikes on Sunday morning. A total of 66 Israelis have died, all but two of them soldiers. A Thai worker in Israel also died.
Agence France-Presse news agency quoted Palestinian emergency services as saying 12 Palestinians had been killed early on Sunday but this has not been independently confirmed.
Israeli media also reported fresh militant rocket attacks.
A UN-brokered humanitarian ceasefire, intended to last 72 hours, ended on Friday after less than five hours, with each side blaming the other.A UN-brokered humanitarian ceasefire, intended to last 72 hours, ended on Friday after less than five hours, with each side blaming the other.
Israel says it is defending itself from attacks by Palestinian militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths in Gaza, saying fighters deliberately operate from civilian areas.Israel says it is defending itself from attacks by Palestinian militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths in Gaza, saying fighters deliberately operate from civilian areas.
Critics of Israel's actions say Gaza is so densely populated any conflict there will inevitably affect civilian areas and cause civilian casualties.Critics of Israel's actions say Gaza is so densely populated any conflict there will inevitably affect civilian areas and cause civilian casualties.