A permanent ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution can be realised, Lord Cameron has declared.
The Foreign Secretary’s comments come after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
AFPForeign Secretary David Cameron has said a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution is still possible[/caption]
The ex-PM said there is “a route to having a Palestinian state” despite Mr Netanyahu continuing to reject calls for a two-state solution after the conflict.
The Israeli PM said last week the idea would “endanger the state of Israel” and slammed the “attempt to coerce us”.
Speaking during his diplomatic tour of the Middle East, the Tory peer told broadcasters: “It’s time for an immediate pause in the fighting because we’ve got to not only get the aid in, but, crucially, we’ve got to get those hostages out.
“And what I think we can do now is plan for how you turn that pause into a permanent, sustainable ceasefire without a return to fighting. That’s what I was pushing on him (Netanyahu).
“And that’s what I’ll be talking about here today.”
He said Hamas terrorists must leave Gaza for a cessation of hostilities, but that the Palestinians must also be shown there is a “route to having a Palestinian state, to having a new future”.
Earlier in the week Hamas has said there was “no chance” of releasing the remaining 130 hostages after Benjamin Netanyahu rejected another ceasefire deal.
On Sunday, the Israeli PM turned down the conditions presented by Hamas that would include Israel’s complete withdrawal and leaving the terror group in power in Gaza.
Netanyahu said: “In exchange for the release of our hostages, Hamas demands the end of the war, the withdrawal of our forces from Gaza, the release of all the murderers and rapists.
“And leaving Hamas intact.
“I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas.”
In response, hours later, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Tel Aviv’s refusal to end the military offensive in Gaza “means there is no chance for the return of the (Israeli) captives”.
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