Mid-East civilians 'suffer most'

Oxfam says more should be done to reduce the impact on civilians

Aid agency Oxfam is calling for more to be done to protect civilians caught up in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Both sides have failed to safeguard civilians as required under international law, it says in a report.

The charity criticised Israel for its recent raids on the Gaza Strip, in which civilians have died.

The Palestinian Authority has also failed to stop militant attacks on Israeli civilians, it added.

International protection

Oxfam director Barbara Stocking said Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the international community needed to act to reduce the impact of the conflict.

She said the charity had collected evidence that showed it was "civilians on both sides who are suffering the most".

"Oxfam is calling on these key players to meet around the negotiating table without delay, to decide what action to take in order to protect civilians on both sides and to put an end to the suffering," she added.

The charity called for an international protection force to shield civilians, as well as the creation of a mechanism for settling disputes.

It demanded an end to the "culture of impunity", saying that the people who committed "inhuman and criminal acts" should be brought to justice.

It also urged Israel to fold plans to complete its controversial barrier in the West Bank.

A recent report by the UN Human Rights Commission said the barrier had divided families and caused widespread destruction of Palestinian property.

Israel says it needs the barrier to defend itself from suicide bombers.