PRIME Minister Gordon Brown last night called for an “immediate and urgent” ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as he warned of a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
Mr Brown’s appeal came after Israel rejected a European call for a two-day halt to air strikes which have killed 390 people and wounded 1,600 over the past five days.
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury issued a plea for a New Year “period of truce” in the Middle East, to allow the Israelis and Palestinians time to explore ways to restart the peace process.
In a statement released by Lambeth Palace, Dr Rowan Williams urged the outgoing US President George Bush and his successor Barack Obama to unite in a joint appeal for a cessation of hostilities.
Britain yesterday announced emergency aid worth £7m to provide urgently-needed food and fuel to Gaza, where International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said the humanitarian situation was “getting worse by the hour”.
Mr Brown said he had received assurances in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that there will be access for aid. United Nations aid workers are expected to go into the territory with supplies tomorrow.
“It is vital that moderation must now prevail – there’s a humanitarian crisis,” Mr Brown told reporters.
“We have now set aside $10m of aid, so that will happen. I have some indication that aid is now getting through.
“Of course, the second thing we’ve got to do is secure an immediate and urgent ceasefire.”
The Prime Minister said he had talked to leaders on both sides about a set of proposals being discussed by the Arab League, which he said offered “the best way forward” for Gaza.
“I believe that this is the best opportunity for a ceasefire and for peace,” Mr Brown said.
“I believe that the various forces involved should seize this opportunity now.”
There were demands yesterday for the House of Commons to return early from its Christmas break – not due to end until January 12 – to debate the Gaza crisis.
The strikes on Gaza were launched on Saturday in an attempt to halt a wave of rockets fired into the south of Israel over the past fortnight since the Hamas movement, which holds power in the territory, abandoned a six-month ceasefire.
Hamas says some 200 uniformed members of its security forces have been killed, while the UN puts civilian fatalities at more than 60.
