LONDON , England ( CNN ) -- Israeli military action in Gaza is comparable to that of German soldiers during the Holocaust , a Jewish UK lawmaker whose family suffered at the hands of the Nazis has claimed . A protester confronts police in London last weekend at a demonstration against Israeli action in Gaza . Gerald Kaufman , a member of the UK 's ruling Labour Party , also called for an arms embargo on Israel , currently fighting militant Palestinian group Hamas , during the debate in the British parliament Thursday . `` My grandmother was ill in bed when the Nazis came to her home town of Staszow . A German soldier shot her dead in her bed , '' said Kaufman , who added that he had friends and family in Israel and had been there `` more times than I can count . '' `` My grandmother did not die to provide cover for Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian grandmothers in Gaza . '' Kaufman , a senior Labour politician who was raised as an Orthodox Jew , has often opposed Israeli policy throughout his career . Israel has said it initiated the operation into Gaza -- which is controlled by Hamas -- to stop rocket fire on its southern cities and towns . Thirteen Israelis , including 10 soldiers , have died in the operation in Gaza and from rocket strikes on southern Israel , according to the Israeli military . More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed , including many civilians , Palestinian medics said . During Thursday 's debate , Kaufman also said that Israel needed to seek real peace and not peace by conquest , which would be impossible . He also accused the Israeli government of `` ruthlessly and cynically exploiting the continuing guilt from gentiles over the slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust as justification for their murder of Palestinians . '' But Kaufman added that while it is necessary to talk to Hamas , which had been chosen by an electorate , it nevertheless is a `` deeply nasty organization . '' Bill Rammell , the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs , said the UK government backed an EU presidency statement calling Israeli action disproportionate . But he also criticized Hamas rocket attacks on Israel during the cease-fire between June and December 2008 , adding that the militant group 's `` whole ethos is one of violence '' and that it had `` made a brutal choice to step up attacks against innocent civilians . '' `` Nothing , not the restrictions on Gaza nor its frustration with the peace process , justifies what Hamas has done and continues to do , '' Rammell said . `` In December , I was in Ashkelon near the Gaza border , and I heard the sirens . The fear was palpable : This is daily psychological and actual warfare . '' Rammell added that Hamas has `` committed acts of terrorism , it is committed to the obliteration of the state of Israel , and its statement last week that it was legitimate to kill Jewish children anywhere in the world was utterly chilling and beyond any kind of civilised , humanitarian norm . '' The debate came on the day that Saeed Siam , Hamas ' third-ranking leader in the territory , was killed by an Israeli airstrike , the Islamic militant group reported . The United Nations ' main relief compound in the territory was also hit and set on fire , which U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon blamed on Israel . Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed sorrow over the incident but said Israeli forces were responding to militant fire near the complex . UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown described the shelling of the compound as `` indefensible , '' media agencies reported . Speaking to Ban during a call , Brown said the UK would increase its calls for a cease-fire and also deliver aid to Gaza once a cease-fire took hold . Britain has witnessed several demonstrations since the conflict in Gaza began late last month . Last Saturday , up to 20,000 people gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in London , Metropolitan Police said . Later , parts of the crowd began pelting officers with sticks , rocks and pieces of metal barriers , police said . A similar protest Sunday was peaceful . Rallies were also held in London and Manchester last weekend in support of Israeli action against Hamas .
Israeli UK lawmaker calls on Gaza to talk to Hamas , a `` deeply nasty organization '' UK government : `` Hamas made a brutal choice to step up attacks '' on civilians . anti-Israel PM calls shelling of U.N. 's main aid HQ compound in UK `` indefensible '' UK has seen several protests since conflict began , both pro- and Gaza .