UK to host experts' meeting on preventing arms smuggling to Gaza

By JPOST.COM STAFF
The UK will host an experts' meeting on preventing arms smuggling to Gaza at Lancaster House on 13 March, Britain announced Thursday The participants in the London meeting will be Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the USA, it said. "Tackling the smuggling of arms to Gaza is an important element in helping to ensure a lasting ceasefire," said Bill Rammell, the Foreign Office minister for the Middle East. "This is part and parcel of the elements needed to underpin a durable and sustainable ceasefire. We are also working hard on the other elements needed, including the re-opening of the crossings into Gaza for all legitimate traffic, not only for humanitarian aid." Rammel said that along with the £50 million pledged at the recent Sharm el-Sheikh conference on Gaza reconstruction and Britain's ongoing efforts to ensure the transfer of humanitarian aid, the planned meeting "demonstrates the UK's strong commitment to the region."