Campaigners give PM Gaza letter

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Anti-war campaigners have handed over a letter to Downing Street calling for the British government to help stop the fighting in Gaza.

The Stop the War Coalition delivered the letter along with Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn and designer Katherine Hamnett.

Israeli aircraft have continued to bomb Gaza overnight despite the United Nations calling for an immediate end to nearly two weeks of conflict.

Supporters of Palestine and Israel have held several demonstrations in London.

Police are preparing for further demonstrations over the weekend.

Last Saturday's march through London, organised by the Stop the War coalition, was attended by about 11,000, according to the Metropolitan Police.

Access for aid

On Wednesday night, nine men were arrested when the two rival groups of protesters clashed in the streets outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, west London.

The following day veteran peace campaigners Tony Benn and Brian Haw joined the launch of a non-stop vigil opposite the Houses of Parliament in protest at Israel's attacks. Many people in Britain are viewing events in Gaza with increasing alarm and despair David Heath, Liberal Democrat MP <a class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7820027.stm">Bombs hit Gaza as UN urges truce</a>

The conflict in the Middle East, which began on 27 December, has left an estimated 770 Palestinians and 14 Israelis dead.

The Israeli government has said it is defending its citizens from rocket attacks by Hamas militants.

A UN Security Council resolution has called for an immediate ceasefire, access for aid workers and a lasting solution to the conflict, but the Israeli government has rejected it.

Speaking to BBC News, the former UK ambassador to the UN, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, said he hoped Israel would stop military operations soon.

"I think it's a good resolution and needs to be implemented but the Israeli army needs to take decisions on the ground under the Israeli government to implement that resolution," he said.

"The tragedy is this military action was never necessary. There has to be a political route out of the trouble."

Emergency meeting

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague also welcomed the UN resolution.

"A ceasefire, implemented by both sides, is the only solution which will preserve the peace process, protect Israel's security and allow action to be taken to address suffering in Gaza, " he said.

"It requires an end to Hamas rocket attacks against Israeli citizens, which are acts of terrorism, as well as an end to Israeli military operations."

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats have called for an emergency debate on the situation in Gaza when Parliament returns from its Christmas break on Monday.

Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman David Heath said: "Many people in Britain are viewing events in Gaza with increasing alarm and despair."