Gaza Conditions 'Worst In 40 Years'

While recognising Israel's right to defend its citizens, a report entitled Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion argues that the blockade has lead directly to the complete impoverishment of Gaza.

It paints a grim picture of a population - almost totally (80%) dependant on food aid and with almost half the people (40%) unemployed - that has little chance of ending its dependency.

Israel brushed aside the report's findings, once again laying the blame at the door of Hamas. In a statement to the BBC its defence ministry said, "The main responsibility for events in Gaza is the Hamas organisation, to which all complaints should be addressed."

However, the authors of the report hit back and called on Israel to fulfill its obligations under international law as an occupying power, saying, "Unless the blockade ends now, it will be impossible to pull Gaza back from the brink of this disaster and any hopes for peace in the region will be dashed." (Geoffrey Dennis, of Care International UK BBC.)

They also called on the international community to break its policy of non-engagement with Hamas. If such a move was made by the international community then it would further undermine the credibility of the Israeli governments hard-line approach, which is already showing signs of domestic unpopularity. A poll recently published in the Israeli paper Haaretz found 54% of respondent's backing diplomatic engagement with Hamas.