British MPs urge Quartet to include Hamas in peace talks

After a long period of politically sequestering the Hamas government ruling the Gaza Strip, a group of British statesmen are willing to reestablish official relations with the group.

According to a report in the British Guardian, a cross-party group has called on the Quartet's Middle East envoy Tony Blair to open a dialogue with Hamas, saying "until now there has been no engagement between the Quartet and Hamas, but now we think it is time".

The international community, said the Members of Parliament, should "seize the opportunity" presented by the ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas to try and include thelatetr in the peace process.

Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce said that MPs believed it was time for the Quartet – which is made up of the US, the EU, Russia and the UN – to allow Hamas to be heard.

The MPs noted that Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza Strip was "neither justified nor acceptable", but added that including the group in the peace talks was imperative, urged the Quartet to use the opportunity provided by the truce to try and facilitate a solution to the rift between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah.

The Quartet is adamant that Hamas adheres to three principles –recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and abiding by previous agreements – before it allows it to be involved in the peace process.

Bruce added that food, petrol and water were in short supply in the Strip, and that the public health system was under severe pressure following the closure of border crossings with Israel.

"Israel has obligations to ensure the health and welfare of the Palestinian population, which it has not met," he said, "We believe the situation was allowed to continue for too long, and that the Quartet did not exert sufficient pressure on Israel to open the crossings."