UK wants to see agreed ceasefire
Source: AFP |
November 19, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A GROUND invasion of the Gaza Strip would lose Israel much international sympathy and support, British Foreign Secretary William Hague warned yesterday.
Hague told Sky News it was much more difficult to limit civilian casualties in a ground assault and it would threaten to prolong the conflict.
Britain has said Hamas bears the principal responsibility for the crisis over its rocket attacks on Israeli territory. But Hague said it would be hard for the international community to maintain sympathy with Israel after a ground operation.
"We have made our views very clear on that with Israel," Hague said, "just as we have made very clear our view that the barrage of rockets from Gaza on to southern Israel is an intolerable situation for the Israelis and it's not surprising they have responded to that."
He said Britain would like to see an agreed ceasefire, with an end to the rocket attacks being an essential component of any peace deal.
"In the absence of that ceasefire, we of course are calling on all involved to de-escalate, to avoid civilian casualties and to abide by international humanitarian law," he said.
Hague said it would be a "mistake" for the Palestinians to try to gain observer status at the United Nations at this point as it would be "divisive" with the US - the only power that can kick-start the peace process.
It could also lead to Israel cutting off revenues to the Palestinian Authority which could lead almost to its collapse.
Hague told Sky News it was much more difficult to limit civilian casualties in a ground assault and it would threaten to prolong the conflict.
Britain has said Hamas bears the principal responsibility for the crisis over its rocket attacks on Israeli territory. But Hague said it would be hard for the international community to maintain sympathy with Israel after a ground operation.
"We have made our views very clear on that with Israel," Hague said, "just as we have made very clear our view that the barrage of rockets from Gaza on to southern Israel is an intolerable situation for the Israelis and it's not surprising they have responded to that."
He said Britain would like to see an agreed ceasefire, with an end to the rocket attacks being an essential component of any peace deal.
"In the absence of that ceasefire, we of course are calling on all involved to de-escalate, to avoid civilian casualties and to abide by international humanitarian law," he said.
Hague said it would be a "mistake" for the Palestinians to try to gain observer status at the United Nations at this point as it would be "divisive" with the US - the only power that can kick-start the peace process.
It could also lead to Israel cutting off revenues to the Palestinian Authority which could lead almost to its collapse.
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