Liz Lynne expresses dismay at new Gaza violence

5.01.07pm GMT Wed 28th Jan 2009

Liberal Democrat Euro MP Liz Lynne has today said she is appalled and disappointed by the renewed violence along the Gaza/ Israeli border.

The Member of the European Parliament's Human Rights Sub- Committee was commenting after Israel launched an air attack on the Gaza Strip, followed by an incursion involving tanks and bulldozers killing one Hamas member and two bystanders. The assault came in response to an attack on an Israeli patrol on Tuesday that left one Israeli solider dead.

The new violence comes barely a week after both Israel and Hamas declared an end to bitter fighting that saw a full scale invasion of Gaza by Israeli troops and saw over 1000 dead, a third of which were innocent men women and children.

Speaking today Liz Lynne expressed her dismay at the new fighting and appealed for both sides to respect the ceasefire saying:

"The Gaza Strip has already suffered too much violence and bloodshed this year. We cannot allow these new attacks to restart the fighting.

"While I utterly condemn the actions of both sides I believe that it is crucial that Israel opens the Gaza borders and allows vital humanitarian aid to pass through.

"If the Israeli Government continues to deny the people of the Gaza Strip the essential supplies that they need then they will only succeed in radicalizing more young men and women. This will only put their troops in more danger and lead to more suffering for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

"The people of Gaza are in desperate need of help, they need to be able to rebuild their lives. There is simply no chance of peace while the blockade of Gaza continues."