UK’s Raab meets Israeli, Palestinian leaders on Gaza cease-fire

By AbdelRaouf Arnaout
JERUSALEM (AA) – UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab held talks on Wednesday with his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi on a cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.

“The events of the last month demonstrate the urgent need to make genuine progress towards a more positive future for both Israelis and Palestinians [...] and to break the cycle of violence that has claimed so many lives,” Raab said in a statement.

“The UK supports a two-state solution as the best way to deliver a lasting peace,” he said.

A statement by the Israeli Foreign Ministry said Ashkenazi thanked Raab for “the UK's support for Israel during Operation Guardian of the Walls [code-name of Gaza offensive] and its condemnation of Hamas’ rockets at Israeli civilians”.

Following his talks in Israel, Raab met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. He is scheduled to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki later in the day.

On Friday, an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel came into effect, putting an end to 11 days of the worst cycle of fighting in years.

At least 254 Palestinians were killed, including 66 children and 39 women, and more than 1,900 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, according to Palestinian medics. At least 31 Palestinians were also killed in Israeli attacks in the occupied West Bank.

Thirteen Israelis were also killed by Palestinian rocket fire from the Gaza Strip.

According to the Palestinian Public Works Ministry in Gaza, 258 buildings — around 1,042 residential and commercial units — were destroyed during the Israeli onslaught. Another 769 units were severely damaged, rendering them uninhabitable, and 14,536 suffered minor damage.

Seventeen hospitals were damaged, as well as 53 schools.

*Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara