THE Wycombe MP says he added his voice to calls for a ceasefire in Gaza the day after the conflict broke out.

Paul Goodman MP (Con/High Wycombe) said he called for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel on December 28, three days before the Wycombe Muslim Communication Forum (WMCF)called on him to do so.

Yesterday 300 people gathered at Frogmoor in the town centre to attend a vigil to pray for those who have suffered because of the violence.

Mr Goodman said: “Some members of the WMCF are aware that I first called for a ceasefire in Gaza as early as December 28, the day after Israel commenced large-scale military action against Gaza.

“I'm writing to David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, to urge him to press for a U.N resolution, and have been in contact with my party's front bench foreign affairs team.

“Like any decent person I want to see this conflict come to an end.

“A just and lasting peace in the Middle East can only be brought about by a two-state solution - a state of Israel living in peace alongside a viable state of Palestine and their Arab neighbours.”

Last week Zahid Jawed, a spokesman for the WMCF warned the latest conflict may be used as propaganda by Muslim extremists in the UK.

Mr Goodman said: “The Forum is right to condemn extremism in Britain, and I strongly agree with its view that peace is in the interest of Israel and Palestine, and that a ceasefire must be observed by both sides.

“Obviously, the Forum won't just be concerned about one of many terrible world conflicts, or about the loss of lives of Muslims only.

“To that end, I look forward to discussing with it such appalling conflicts as the Sudan war, as well as the Israel/Palestine conflict and the crisis in Kashmir, in which I take a special interest."