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Gaza

No. I shall make progress, if I may. The point about the number of hon. Members wishing to speak is clear. We recognise Israel's right to self-defence but, as I said, the EU presidency stated on 27 December that the Israelis' use of force is disproportionate. We supported that statement and we continue to support it. There has also been a real concern about the use of white phosphorous by Israel. The use of white phosphorous is not banned under international law, but we have made it abundantly clear to the Israelis that it should not be used as an anti-personnel weapon, and most certainly not in a civilian environment. Its use in built-up areas such as Gaza is, bluntly, unacceptable. The shelling this morning in Gaza of the UN compound is indefensible and unacceptable, and Israel has acknowledged that fact.