The Rt Hon William Hague MP

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affaiars

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

King Charles Street

London

SW1A 2AH

11^th July 2014

Dear William,

Further to my letter of a few days ago, I am writing again to urge you to step up action to secure an end to the latest escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine, and to oppose any attempt by the Israel military to launch a ground attack in Gaza.

The Palestinian death toll is rising rapidly and Israel needs be held fully to account for its use of missiles in densely populated neighbourhoods, a policy which breaches international human rights standards. The collective punishment of the Palestinian people is unacceptable, and so too is the firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas fighters. I hope you will repeatedly and forcefully condemn the use of violence on both sides - and follow this up with action to hold those responsible to account.

Several polls indicate that Israeli public opinion is shifting against its government's continued military response and occupation, and the UN Secretary General is calling for a renewed commitment to a two-state solution. The international community must take decisive action to prevent further violence, and to broker the peace settlement that Israelis and Palestinians alike so desperately want.

This latest surge in violence was triggered by the horrific murders of 4 teenage boys. Unless the international community speaks with one voice to demand a cease fire, yet more parents will lose their sons, more children will lose their parents and more families will be torn apart by grief.

I hope your Government will redouble its efforts to secure a lasting and just peace in the region, based on a two state solution, and to urgently address ongoing human rights violations.

Yours sincerely,