(Reuters) - Britain and the United States have discussed what can be done to ease the Israeli blockade on Gaza after Israel's deadly raid on a Gaza aid flotilla, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Wednesday. Hague told parliament that the incident, in which nine civilians died, arose "from the unacceptable and unsustainable situation in Gaza."
"We will ... continue to press the Israeli government to lift the closure of Gaza, and plan early discussions with Israel as well as our other international partners about what more can be done to ensure an unfettered flow of aid while ensuring that aid reaches those who need it and is not abused," he said.
"I discussed this with (U.S.) Secretary (of State Hillary) Clinton last night and we will be taking forward discussions on this subject urgently," said Hague, a senior member of Britain's new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.
He gave no further details of the discussions between Britain and the United States, two of Israel's closest allies.
Israeli commandos stormed the flotilla of aid ships planning to break the blockade on Monday, injuring dozens more people and detaining hundreds. The incident provoked widespread condemnation and the United Nations called for an impartial investigation.
Israel says its blockade of the Gaza Strip, which is home to 1.5 million Palestinians, is meant to prevent arms and military supplies from reaching the territory's Hamas rulers.
BRITONS DEPORTED
Hague said 37 British nationals were involved in the flotilla. The Foreign Office has said one Briton was hurt.
British diplomats had been given access to 28 of the detained Britons, but Hague said Britain had complained to Israel that they had not been given access to all of them.
One Briton was deported on Tuesday, four more had agreed to be deported on Wednesday and the remaining Britons were likely to be transferred to the airport soon, Hague said.
Hague said Israel's actions in storming the ships "appear to have gone beyond what was warranted or proportionate" and said Britain had told Israel it deeply deplored the loss of life.
"We are seriously concerned about the seizure of British nationals in international waters and this aspect of the Israeli operation must form a key part of the investigation into these events," he said.
Britain's relations with Israel were already strained over the use of fake British passports by the suspected killers of a Hamas commander, Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, in Dubai in January.
Britain expelled an Israeli diplomat in March after concluding Israel had forged the passports. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied a role in al-Mabhouh's death.
