British Foreign Minister Cameron Calls Ceasefire In Gaza Important But Many Conditions Must Be Fulfilled

British Foreign Minister David Cameron. (Wikimedia Commons/State Chancellery)

JAKARTA - British Foreign Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday the ceasefire between Palestinian militants Hamas and the Israeli military was critical to free hostages in the Gaza Strip, but many conditions had to be met so that the ceasefire could last long.

Foreign Minister Cameron said the attack on Israeli civilians by Hamas last year and its hostage-taking was inhumane, and the only way for Palestinians to have a future is not to involve the militant group.

"The most important thing we have to try is to turn the pause into a permanent permanent ceasefire," Foreign Minister Cameron said in an interview during a visit to the Thai air force base.

"We will only do that if all the requirements are met. We have to get the Hamas leaders out of Gaza, we have to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure," he said.

Foreign Minister Cameron's remarks came as the United States launched a new diplomatic push for a ceasefire in a war that has lasted nearly six months, to free hostages and bring in food aid to prevent hunger in the Palestinian enclave.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the Middle East this week, where he will meet senior leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, to "discuss the right architecture for lasting peace", although he did not mention his visit to Israel.