London Thanasis Gavos

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, was received in Jerusalem on Wednesday evening by the Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom, Lord Cameron, at the beginning of his latest tour of Middle Eastern countries.

David Cameron will also meet with his Israeli counterpart before visiting Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.

His trip also includes contacts in Qatar and Turkey.

The aim of Lord Cameron’s trip is to press further for more humanitarian aid to Gaza, for the release of all Hamas hostages and for a sustainable ceasefire.

The British government has identified as conditions for a “sustainable ceasefire” the release of all hostages and Hamas no longer being able to attack Israel.

The primary focus of the talks in Israel and Qatar is to urgently agree a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Lord Cameron will also reiterate the British position in favor of a two-state solution, with Gaza under the administration of the Palestinian Authority.

“No one wants to see this conflict continue for a moment longer than necessary. An immediate pause is now necessary to get help in and the hostages to leave (from Gaza). The situation is desperate,” said the British Foreign Secretary at the beginning of his trip.

In Turkey, Lord Cameron will meet government officials to discuss regional stability and other shared challenges, such as tackling terrorism and illegal immigration, as well as increasing support for NATO and Ukraine, the Foreign Office said.