Palestine

Mr. Dismore
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the situation in Gaza; and what representations the Government have made to the Palestinian President to encourage the release of captured soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit and a cessation of Quassam rocket fire out of the strip.

Dr. Howells
We remain concerned about the continuing Qassam rocket fire from Gaza on Israeli civilian targets. We have called on the Palestinian Authority to prevent all terrorist attacks, including these rocket attacks, and to work towards the release of captured Israeli soldier Corporal Shalit. We welcome the work Palestinian President Abbas is doing to achieve this. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed the issue of Qassam rockets with President Abbas on 10 September.

We are extremely concerned by violent clashes in Gaza, and the high number of casualties. All violence is an obstacle to peace in the region. We support President Abbas' call for an end to the violence, withdrawal of militias from the streets and the restoration of order by legally constituted security forces using appropriate force.

Rosie Cooper
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her latest assessment is of the willingness of Hamas to move towards meeting the conditions of the international community for donor funding.

Dr. Howells
We remain deeply concerned that neither the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, nor Hamas as a movement, have committed to the Quartet’s (EU, US, UN and Russia) three principles: to renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept all previous agreements and obligations.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear during his visit to the region on 9-11 September, we would be ready to re-engage with a Palestinian Government, if it is based on the Quartet principles.

Mr. Spellar
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her latest assessment is of the willingness of Hamas to move towards meeting the conditions of the international community for donor funding.

Dr. Howells
I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the member for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper) today (UIN 90006).