Quartet Representative Tony Blair today returned to Gaza to meet with representatives of local NGOs, civic society and business.

Mr Blair will also get the latest situational update from UN officials while at the UN headquarters.

Tony Blair said: "I have returned to Gaza today to hear directly from local Palestinians about the tough situation they continue to face here. It is vitally important to maintain our focus on the genuine humanitarian concerns that still exist here in Gaza.

"For example, we need to ensure that the housing and infrastructure is being repaired for the people, at the same time as reviving the private sector and developing the Gazan economy, so that people can believe that there is a prospect for that shared future of two states living side by side in peace."

Mr Blair has repeatedly stressed with the Government of Israel the need to open up Gaza, by easing the opening of crossings and allowing appropriate cash and goods in for business and reconstruction.

"To my mind these two years provide a very strong argument as to why policy should change, on behalf of Hamas, on behalf of the Israeli government, on behalf of, actually, the international community," Tony Blair told reporters after his meetings.