Press Association
Friday 12th March 2010
Gordon Brown has warned that the Middle East is facing its "darkest moment yet" amid more bloodshed in Gaza - but expressed hope that a deal could be struck for an immediate ceasefire.
Speaking after Israeli airstrikes near UN schools in the territory reportedly killed scores of people, the Prime Minister said the situation was a "humanitarian crisis".
"This is the darkest moment yet for the Middle East and it affects the whole of the world," he said.
"It's because of that that we must get humanitarian aid that we are promising in."
Mr Brown said he had been discussing the situation with fellow world leaders, including from Egypt and Turkey, and has put forward proposals for making progress.
"I am hopeful that the basis on which an immediate ceasefire can take place can be found," he told reporters in Downing Street.
He said any deal would have to solve issues of weapons being smuggled into the Gaza Strip through tunnels, as well as ensuring security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Mr Brown added: "It's also because of the violence of war that we must work as hard as possible over the next few hours, and days if necessary, so that there is an immediate ceasefire.
"I believe that the proposals that would achieve that are first of all an immediate ceasefire, which means of course no rocket attacks into Gaza as well as no Israeli troops in Gaza. It also means an end to the tunnels and the arms trafficking. And it also means something else that is necessary to complete that: the opening up of the borders under international supervision."
Asked what form the international supervision should take, the Prime Minister replied: "We will need international engagement. It is not possible to see a solution to this without some kind of international engagement that will protect the security of the Israeli people and will create the viability for open borders to be given to the Palestinian area in Gaza."
