Plaid MEP Jill Evans has condemned the renewed violence in the Gaza strip and supported calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Ms Evans recently visited Gaza with an EU mission to Palestine and Israel and was shocked by the deterioration in living conditions for ordinary Palestinians.

A report by humanitarian groups published today says that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is at its worst since Israel occupied the territory in 1967.

Ms Evans said today:

"The recent escalation in violence in and around the Gaza strip is causing huge human suffering and it has to stop. When I visited Gaza two weeks ago, we were all shocked by the dire humanitarian situation but it now seems that things have got even worse.

"Today's report highlights the humanitarian crisis. Around 80% of people are unemployed and around three quarters of the population depend on UN food aid.

"I have visited hospitals and refugee camps and have seen a people struggling to cope with the effects of the Israeli blockade.

"It's crucial that UN aid is allowed to flow freely and energy supplies to Gaza are secured. The current cycle of violence must be broken if efforts to restart the peace process are to have any chance of success."