Shadow Foreign Secretary's statement on Gaza

Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary David Miliband said:

I am deeply concerned by the incidents overnight. As I said in the House of Commons last week, a policy of neglect of Gaza is bound to fail.

The terrible death toll of the last 24 hours and the consequences for international relations demonstrate the urgency of international action in support of UN Resolution 1860.

I fully support the European Union’s call for a full investigation into this most recent incident. The killing of innocent civilians is always to be condemned.

The humanitarian suffering in Gaza is completely unjustified and self defeating for all those concerned with political progress in the Middle East.

Vital supplies must be allowed into Gaza and the futile loss of civilian lives in this tragedy only increases that requirement.

My thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed and injured. My thoughts are also with the future of the Middle East.

The UK is a member of the United Nations Security Council and the European Union. It is vital that we make our voice heard both in respect of this immediate incident and for a comprehensive drive for peace. That is what I look for the Government urgently to provide.