LONDON, March 20 Having failed to stop the flow of arms to the Gaza strip despite its iron clad cordon around the besieged land, Israel has now obtained a promise from the world's major arms suppliers to cooperate in cutting off the supplies at the source.

A programme of action has been drawn up in this regard following a meeting of the suppliers held in London early this week on 'arms smuggling' in Gaza.

The London meeting follows up on the Feb 5 Copenhagen conference, when participants agreed to explore and develop effective measures together with regional partners, such as enhancing information sharing, strengthening diplomatic cooperation and reviewing international authorities and mechanisms.

The participants in the meeting were Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the USA.

“This initiative constitutes a response to persistent concerns over the flow of weapons to the Gaza Strip,” said an official handout issued by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office at the end of the meeting.

Ostensibly, the new strategy to render the Gazans totally defenceless against an armed-to- teeth Israel is being presented as a supplement to efforts to achieve an immediate and durable ceasefire, including a 'cessation of all violence such as rocket attacks against Israel and all other hostilities directed against civilians, and the unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance to Gaza as well as the sustained re-opening of crossing points on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access.'

The Declaration signed by the participants of the conference said that the initiative was aimed at developing an effective framework for international cooperation, supplementary to measures taken by regional states to prevent and interdict the illicit flow of arms, ammunition, and weapons components, to Gaza.

Participating governments seek to enhance efforts to prevent and interdict the illicit trafficking of arms, ammunition and weapons components to Gaza and within their jurisdiction to prevent the facilitation of such transfers.

“The governments confirm their commitment to support efforts of regional states through activities farther afield. The governments reaffirm that the international community has a responsibility to support prevention and interdiction efforts and that such efforts may involve a broad range of tools to include diplomatic, military, intelligence, and law enforcement components.

“These efforts build upon UNSCR 1860 and the principles and obligations pursuant to transfers of arms or related materials established in relevant UNSCRs including 1747.

They recognise that these efforts include measures to prevent, disrupt, delay, stop, or seize illicit transfers of arms, ammunition and weapons components and offer a range of roles for members of the international community, taking into account counter-terrorism and non-proliferation conventions and regimes. Participation in this effort does not obligate states to take any specific action. Cooperative actions may involve only some of the participants.

“Participating governments will support, in conformity with international and domestic law, and given national capabilities, a range of actions,” said the Communiqué.