West Bank children still in danger

The Israeli army is keeping a tight grip on Nablus

The plight of four Welsh children trapped in the Israeli military's continuing West Bank offensive has been raised in the House of Commons.

The children - aged 10 to 16 years and from Barry, near Cardiff - are holed up in an apartment block with their Palestinian father as the violence of the controversial crackdown continues.

Their mother, Eileen Sutton, wants to bring them back to the UK and has the backing of her Vale of the Glamorgan MP, John Smith.

In an emotional speech in the Commons, Mr Smith pleaded with the UK Government to help pull them out of the occupied territory.

Mr Smith has already called on UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to intervene to have the children taken to the safety of the British consulate.

In a House of Commons debate on Monday evening, he said: "These four young innocents do not deserve to find themselves in such a situation.

"For God's sake and in the name of humanity, get them out of there - and get them out now."

He brushed aside concerns their rescue would only intensify violence.

"If that is the thinking we have got it all wrong," he said.

"There should be one consideration only - the children are in grave danger and should be moved to safety immediately."

Colin Powell is leaving without a ceasefire

Mr Smith is seeking an urgent meeting with Home Office minister Ben Bradshaw.

Red Cross bosses have again warned the Arab territory's largest city is turning into a humanitarian nightmare.

The agency has been barred from accessing the area, where Palestinian sources claim hundreds of people including women and children have been killed by the Israeli incursion.

The Israelis put the death toll in "dozens" and say they targeted only militants.

Food and water is said to be running low without the arrival of aid agencies.

The youngsters' flat was commandeered by Israeli army officials who coordinated the operation in the Arab settlement.

Hospital records show that 71 Palestinians have been killed there since the Israeli army entered on 3 April.

A Reuters correspondent there saw a mortuary overflowing with corpses - including 25 piled in a refrigerated dairy truck.