UK and US must back immediate Middle East Ceasefire

8.15.37pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 31st Jul 2006

Israel has today carried out air strikes in southern Lebanon after previously promising a 48 hour halt to attacks. Palestinian doctors in Gaza say several people have been hurt in fresh Israeli air strikes there, that took place as Israel's Lebanon offensive continues. Israel says it attacked buildings used by militants from Hamas and the Popular Resistance Committees in Gaza City and the northern town of Beit Hanoun.

The US and the UK governments are out of line with UN and world opinion. Having secured, however grudgingly, a halt to air strikes this must now be respected by Israel to avoid another tragedy such as Qana. For their part, the governments in the Middle East, including Syria and Iran, must press for a Hezbollah ceasefire and the return of the Israeli soldiers. We need an immediate ceasefire as a first step towards securing a sustainable peace in the area.