Region | Palestinian Territories
Israel and Palestinian envoys clash in UN debate
Envoys hold angry exchanges during a debate on Israel's blockading of the Gaza Strip.
- Israel and Palestinian envoys clash in UN debate
- Published: 10:02 January 23, 2008
New York: The Palestinian and Israeli envoys to the UN held angry exchanges during a debate on Israel's blockading of the Gaza Strip.
The clashes came in a day long debate in which Palestinian UN observer Riyad Mansour accused Israel of collective punishment and of increasing violence in the region.
Israel's representative denied that it was breaking international law by cutting off the Hamas controlled Gaza.
Gilad Cohen insisted that it was acting to safeguard its people from rocket attacks but claimed that Israel would "ensure the humanitarian welfare" of Gaza.
The debate was held in response to a request from several Arab countries to the week long blockade of Gaza which has seen power stations shut down because of a lack of fuel.
The European Union has called on Israel to fully lift the blockade while the UN has warned that food aid may have to be stopped in the next few days.
Israel partially lifted the blockade on Tuesday, allowing some fuel to be delivered to the territory.
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