Liberal Democrat Chris Davies announced today he was going to try to gain access to the Gaza Strip despite continued fighting in the territory.

Davies, who represents the North West in Brussels, said he wanted to see conditions in the stricken Palestinian enclave for himself.

He is among nine MEPs from across the European Union who are being given support by Egypt to travel to the Rafah border crossing between Israel and Gaza.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has apparently offered transport and security to the MEPs so that they can enter Gaza tomorrow.

Journalists have been prevented from entering the territory, preventing full reporting of conditions for its 1.5 million Palestinians under the Israeli bombardment.

Mr Davies, who is a member of the European Parliament's delegation to the Palestinian Legislative Council, said he was determined to get into Gaza in what would be his fourth trip in as many years.

"By denying journalists access to Gaza in defiance of Israel's own Supreme Court, the Israeli authorities are doing their very best to prevent the world's citizens from seeing just what is going on," he said.

"The violence in Gaza has worldwide repercussions. Our job as Parliamentarians will be to use our eyes and ears, and then to advise on whether European Union policies are proving effective or are in need of radical reform."

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