MORE than 2,000 people in Durham have backed a call for Israel to end its occupation of Palestine.

They signed a petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair, which was launched by the Durham Campaign for Peace and Solidarity in the Middle East.

The protestors say they are outraged at the brutal storming of Palestinian towns and Israeli violations of the Geneva Convention.

They claim that the violations include the collective punishment of civilians, attacks on Palestinian refugee camps, towns and cities with tanks, artillery, fighter jets and rockets, and the imprisoning thousands of civilians in their homes, leaving them unable to reach medical aid, food and water.

The petition demands immediate international protection for Palestinian civilians and the implementation of UN resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The petitioners say they expect the Government to respect international resolutions and for ministers to do everything in their power to implement them.

Their petition, which is 50 yards long, was handed to the city's Labour MP Gerry Steinberg who has promised to take it to Downing Street.

Group spokesman Vin McIntyre said: "The petition represents the opinions of a lot of Mr Steinberg's constituents.

"We have had a lot of support. People were queuing up in the Market Place to sign it. We got about 1,200 signatures there and got further signatures in the university.''