Hopes for reconciliation in Gaza

Gordon Brown has made a fresh appeal to Israel to help aid get to the victims of the Gaza conflict after talks at Downing Street with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. The Prime Minister said it was in Israeli interests as much as anyone's to allow full humanitarian access as the true scale of the damage inflicted by its controversial offensive became clear. Mr Brown said: "More than 1,000 innocent civilians, including over 300 children, lost their lives as a result of the conflict in Gaza. Thousands more have been displaced and injured; many more remain in dire need of food and medical attention. "So we must do everything we can ... to help rebuild Gaza and to provide humanitarian relief to families whose lives have been shattered. "Britain will play its part. We have trebled our relief effort in addition to the already significant support from the UN agencies responding to the challenge. "I have written to Prime Minister Olmert this week to urge him to allow full humanitarian access to those seeking to get food and medicines to those who need it." Mr Brown added: "I believe that this is as strongly in Israel's interest as it is in the interests of all of us who have been so shocked by the violence and loss of life." He said progress in the West Bank, where Mr Abbas remains in control, was an example of "what can be achieved if the forces of moderation prevail". Mr Abbas said the "destruction" caused by the military action would cost $15 billion (£10.4bn) to repair - much higher than previous estimates - and said the UK would have "an important role to play". "In spite of all of this, we are saying to the whole world and we are saying to Israel: there is no alternative to peace in the Middle East." He said he was hopeful of a Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and his more moderate Fatah party, leading to a government of national unity and then fresh elections.

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ITN | February 5, 2009

Tags:. .fatah. .trebled. .olmert. .inflicted. .shattered