Gaza Blockade Must End - Teather

3.47.24pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Jun 2010

Sarah Teather has visited both Gaza and Israeli town Sderot to witness the situation first hand

Local Brent Central MP Sarah Teather has spoken with the Minister for the Middle East to raise her concerns over the death of nine civilians during the storming of an aid flotilla heading for the Gaza Strip.

Sarah has joined Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in calling on Israel to mount a transparent and thorough investigation into the incident, and to lift the blockade of Gaza. Sarah has spent years campaigning for peace in the Middle East, and has visited the region twice to witness the impact of the conflict first hand.

In her conversation with Alistair Burt, Minister for the Middle East, Sarah specifically asked for information on the safety of Sarah Colborne, an activist that Sarah has previously worked with in Brent.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent Central Sarah Teather said:

"A huge number of my constituents have been in touch distressed by the scenes they have seen unfolding on the news. These latest events will do nothing to help the long term security of either Israeli or Palestinian victims of the conflict.

"Having witnessing the distressing consequences of the blockade first hand on two occasions, I am in no doubt of the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While Israel of course has the right to defend itself and its citizens from any attack, the blockade is counter productive and must be lifted as soon as possible.

"I have raised my constituents' concerns directly with the Minister for the Middle East. There are activists caught up in the situation who are well known to many in Brent, and I hope that the British government will do everything in their power to establish their safety.

"I will continue to campaign for both the Israeli and Palestinian people to be able to live their lives in peace."