Middle East envoy Tony Blair has given his strongest call yet for Israel to change policy on Gaza.
In only his second visit to the territory as envoy, he told Sky News Israel's blockade has to be replaced by something new.
In only his second visit to the territory as envoy, he told Sky News Israel's blockade has to be replaced by something new.
"Unless there's a real change on the ground, where people are being offered some prospect of hope and the chance to lead a different life - then the politics, two-state solution or not, is not going to work," he said.
His comments echo those of US President Barack Obama, who said Israel's blockade was not in the best interests of its security.
Mr Blair has been in the job two years this month.
Despite lack of progress towards the goal of a Palestinian state, aides say he remains as committed as ever to his role.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has finally endorsed the concept of a Palestinian state for the first time.
But he attached new strict conditions that Palestinians say are unacceptable.
One is that Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish state before negotiations even begin.
Mr Blair told Sky News such a precondition should not rule out the question of Palestinian refugees returning to Israel as a subject for negotiation.
"I never know what people mean by this," he said.
"If people mean this is a way of having the debate about the right of return of refugees then I think that's best done in the negotiation."
Mr Netanyahu's speech defied the US Government's demands that Israel stops building settlements on occupied land.
It also failed to acknowledge Barack Obama's call for a change in policy in Gaza.
In the devastated area of Abed Rabbo, little has changed in five months since the end of Israel's offensive in Gaza.
People are still living in collapsed buildings and tents because Israel will not allow entry of cement for construction.
Mother-of-four Mona Al Athamna told Sky News she had a message for the Israeli Prime Minister: "I ask him to stop this. As you can see it's a very difficult life here.
"He should open the crossings. There is nothing here in Gaza. They should let cement in, to let people rebuild houses and also to allow food to come in to feed the kids."
Such calls have fallen on deaf ears - and produced no softening of Israel's position on Gaza.
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