The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has called the British Prime Minister's statement about the Gaza Strip "a step in the right direction". David Cameron described Gaza as a "prison camp" in a speech in Ankara.

In a written statement, Hamas spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhom called on "David Cameron and the other leaders of Europe's governments to take practical steps towards changing the situation on the ground". This is of particular importance, he said, following Israel's refusal to end completely the current siege of Gaza. Nevertheless, Mr. Barhom expressed appreciation for the Prime Minister's words.

Mr. Cameron, who heads Britain's coalition government, criticized the Jewish state during his visit to Jordan earlier this week and demanded an end to the blockade that has been imposed on one and a half million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip for four years. In the wake of the international pressure that followed the Israeli navy's attack on an international aid flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea, in which nine passengers were killed, the occupation authorities said that they would "ease", but not lift, the siege.