New Mideast Violence Threatens Peace Talks in Egypt

(13 June 08 - RV)

A stepped-up exchange of violence between Hamas and Israel is threatening to scuttle Egyptian cease-fire efforts.

The latest round of violence occurs one year after Israel blockaded the Gaza Strip following its seizure by Hamas.

Closures in the strip have resulted in a series of humanitarian crises, with vast majorities of Gaza's population of 1.4 million suffering from a lack of basic goods, and shortages of fuel and electricity.

Owen Murray from the Irish Aid Agency is an expert on Gaza. He told us more about the situation.