This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20338088

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Hague: Hamas to blame for escalating tension in Gaza and Israel Israel-Gaza crisis: Cameron speaks to Netanyahu
(about 9 hours later)
Palestinian Islamist group Hamas "bears principal responsibility" for escalating tension in Gaza and southern Israel, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has said. David Cameron has told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas "bears the principal responsibility" for the violence in southern Israel and Gaza.
In a statement, Mr Hague said he deeply regretted "the loss of civilian life on both sides". But the UK prime minister urged both sides to avoid a spiral of violence in the region.
Israel should do its "utmost to reduce tension", the foreign secretary said. Eighteen Palestinians have been killed in the violence, while three Israelis died in cross-border missile fire.
But he added: "I utterly condemn rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel by Hamas and other armed groups." The UK is advising against all but essential travel to within 25 miles (40km) of the Israel-Gaza border.
Three people were killed when href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-20336811" >rockets fired from Gaza struck southern Israel. Israel killed Hamas' military chief in Gaza on Wednesday. Israel killed Hamas' military chief in Gaza on Wednesday.
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister said that he was extremely concerned by the dangerous situation and deeply sorry for the loss of civilian life on both sides.
"He said the rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel by Hamas and other armed groups were completely unacceptable and that the increasing frequency of rocket attacks in recent days was the immediate cause of the situation.
"The prime minister said that the priority must be to de-escalate the crisis.
"He called on Mr Netanyahu to do all he could to avoid civilian casualties and emphasised that both sides needed to avoid a spiral of violence that would be in no one's interest, particularly at a time of instability in the region."
Mr Cameron hopes to speak to Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi about the crisis on Friday.
The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
It now states: "We now advise against all but essential travel to areas within 40km of Israel's border with Gaza; we continue to advise against all travel to Gaza (including the waters off Gaza) and to the Sheba'a Farms and Ghajjar along the border with Lebanon."
Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "I utterly condemn rocket attacks from Gaza into southern Israel by Hamas and other armed groups."
But he also said Israel should do its "utmost to reduce tension".
Rocket attacks from Gaza create "an intolerable situation for Israeli civilians in southern Israel, who have the right to live without fear of attack" and "also risk worsening the plight of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, which is already precarious", he said.Rocket attacks from Gaza create "an intolerable situation for Israeli civilians in southern Israel, who have the right to live without fear of attack" and "also risk worsening the plight of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, which is already precarious", he said.
'Spiral of violence'
"Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza should cease attacks against Israel immediately. I call on those in the region with influence over Hamas to use that influence to bring about an end to the attacks."Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza should cease attacks against Israel immediately. I call on those in the region with influence over Hamas to use that influence to bring about an end to the attacks.
"I also strongly urge Israel to do their utmost to reduce tension, avoid civilian casualties and increase the prospects for both sides to live in peace.
"It is imperative to avoid the risk of a spiral of violence. The escalation of the conflict would be in no one's interest, particularly at a time of instability in the region.
"These events underline once again the fragility of the situation and the urgent need for progress toward a two state solution which allows Israelis and Palestinians to live alongside each other in peace and security."These events underline once again the fragility of the situation and the urgent need for progress toward a two state solution which allows Israelis and Palestinians to live alongside each other in peace and security.
"Britain will do all it can to support such progress and an urgent resumptions of negotiations," the foreign secretary concluded." "Britain will do all it can to support such progress and an urgent resumptions of negotiations."
At a press conference in the Foreign Office, Mr Hague conceded that the UK and other EU nations "don't have any direct control" over the situation but he said he would be attempting to get his message across "very clearly" in meetings with Israel and Egypt's foreign ministers. At a news conference at the Foreign Office, Mr Hague conceded that the UK and other EU nations "don't have any direct control" over the situation but said he would be attempting to get his message across "very clearly" in meetings with Israel's and Egypt's foreign ministers.
"We can only appeal to the self-interest of all those involved to avoid the spiralling of violence," added Mr Hague. Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander called for "an immediate end to the violence to avoid a spiral downwards to even greater suffering".
'Stable footing'
Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander, for Labour, called for "an immediate end to the violence to avoid a spiral downwards to even greater suffering".
He added: "Escalating tension serves no one's interest. Citizens in both Israel and Gaza deserve to live in peace and security.He added: "Escalating tension serves no one's interest. Citizens in both Israel and Gaza deserve to live in peace and security.
"The recent rocket attacks into southern Israel that have led to this latest response deserve our categorical condemnation but Israel must at all times act in accordance with international law."The recent rocket attacks into southern Israel that have led to this latest response deserve our categorical condemnation but Israel must at all times act in accordance with international law.
"This latest escalation of violence only emphasises why it is vital that negotiations to achieve a political solution to the Israeli - Palestinian conflict must resume with urgency." "This latest escalation of violence only emphasises why it is vital that negotiations to achieve a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must resume with urgency."
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who represents the UN, US, EU and Russia in the Middle East, told the BBC: "We are doing all we can to de-escalate the situation.Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who represents the UN, US, EU and Russia in the Middle East, told the BBC: "We are doing all we can to de-escalate the situation.
"We have got to stop the rocket attacks coming out of Gaza which means the Israeli retaliation ceases then put the situation back on a more stable footing. But if the violence continues then Israel will retaliate and this escalation could get a lot worse."We have got to stop the rocket attacks coming out of Gaza which means the Israeli retaliation ceases then put the situation back on a more stable footing. But if the violence continues then Israel will retaliate and this escalation could get a lot worse.
"It's essential we do it now or it will have an impact right across the region.""It's essential we do it now or it will have an impact right across the region."