G8 summit presses Israel on Gaza opening

Jun 26, 2010, 18:15 GMT

Huntsville, Canada - The leaders of the world's eight most powerful developed states on Saturday urged Israel to live up to its promise to loosen its blockade on the Gaza Strip, saying that the current system cannot be allowed to go on.

Israel began blockading Gaza in 2006 and tightened its controls after the Islamist movement Hamas took over the strip in 2007. On Sunday, the government promised to loosen its grip in the face of worldwide outrage at the attack by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound aid fleet.

G8 leaders 'welcome' the promise and 'urge full and effective implementation of this policy in order to address the needs of Gaza's population for humanitarian and commercial goods, civilian reconstruction and infrastructure, and legitimate economic activity,' they said in a joint declaration.

'The current arrangements are not sustainable and must be changed,' the statement insisted.

The text strengthened the terms of a draft declaration which had called for Gazans to be given access to humanitarian aid and building materials, demanding that commercial goods and people also be allowed into the strip.

But it stopped short of condemning the May 31 attack on the aid flotilla, in which Israeli commandos killed nine activists and injured dozens more.

G8 leaders 'deeply regret the loss of life and the injuries suffered in the events off the coast of Gaza on May 31,' it said.

At the same time, leaders welcomed the fact that Israel has set up an investigative commission, including two international members.

That mission should 'bring to light all the facts surrounding this tragic incident,' the statement said.

The G8 members are Britain, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.