---

Gaza

I have made it very clear, and it is the collective view of the Government, that that bombing is indefensible and unacceptable. As the Foreign Secretary said earlier this week,"““Hamas has shown itself over a number of years ready to be murderous in word and deed. Its motif is 'resistance' and its method includes terrorism. Israel is, meanwhile, a thriving, democratic state with an independent judiciary. However, one consequence of the distinction between a democratic Government and a terrorist organisation is that democratic Governments are held to significantly higher standards, notably by their own people.””—[Official Report, 12 January 2009; Vol. 486, c. 23.]"