150 people squeezed inside boxes to illustrate the conditions faced by the population of Gaza trapped by the blockade (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images) More than 150 men, women and children squeezed into tiny wooden boxes opposite Parliament this morning to put pressure on the Government to help lift the blockade on Gaza.

14 August, 2014 - 12:00

150 people squeezed inside boxes to illustrate the conditions faced by the population of Gaza trapped by the blockade (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

More than 150 men, women and children squeezed into tiny wooden boxes opposite Parliament this morning to put pressure on the Government to help lift the blockade on Gaza.

The wooden boxes were placed opposite Parliament to launch Oxfam's nationwide campaign of action (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

The protest sought to show the conditions Palestinians were currently living in, and kicked off a national campaign of action by the charity.

The charity wants to put pressure on the Governmnet to do more to help the people of Gaza (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Oxfam released a statement saying: “Under the blockade, the entirety of Gaza’s civilian population is being punished for acts for which they bear no responsibility.

“This constitutes collective punishment and is illegal under international law.”

Men, women and children took part in the protest opposite Parliament this morning (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

It, along with other members of the Disasters and Emergency Committee, is delivering urgent humanitarian aid to the area after weeks of conflict in the region, with rocket fire and air strikes destroying towns and killing more than 1,000 people.

Oxfam said now more than ever the seven-year blockade should be lifted, with a huge reconstruction effort needed.

The small wooden boxes were used to illustrate the conditions faced by the population of Gaza (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

The demonstration in Parliament Square this morning is part of a challenge to the UK government to clarify what it is doing to bring an end to the blockade and work towards a lasting peace.

Indirect talks are currently going on between representatives of Hamas and Israel in Egypt at ending the current conflict, as a five-day new ceasefire.

Oxfam is asking the United Kingdom Government to act to help end the Gaza blockade (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Nishant Pandey, head of Oxfam in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, said: “The international community will be guilty of a dereliction of duty if it stands by and watches the blockade continue to impose further misery on Palestinians in Gaza.

“Israel does have legitimate security concerns, but punishing everyone in Gaza will not achieve lasting peace and security for either Palestinians or Israelis.

“Enough is enough - the blockade must be lifted now.”