Conditions in Gaza at '40 year low'

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The groups, including Amnesty International, Save the Children, Cafod, Care International and Christian Aid, report - Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion - criticises what it says is 'illegal collective punishment' and it also questions its effectiveness in improving Israel's security situation.

While recognising Israel's right to defend it's citizens the report 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 they have little chance of ending that dependency.

Israel brushed aside the reports findings, once again laying the blame at the door of Hamas. In a statement to the BBC it's defence ministry said that;

"The main responsibility for events in Gaza is the Hamas organisation, to which all complaints should be addressed."

However, the authors of the campaign hit back and called on Israel to fulfill its obligations under international law as an occupying power;

"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 told the BBC.

They also called on the international community to break it's 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.