Shadow Immigration Minister Walton Brown is calling on Government to take a public position on the crisis in the Middle East in an effort to bring peace to the region.

Mr Brown spoke at an open mic meeting last night organised to show solidarity with the Gaza community. Bitter hostilities have claimed the lives of almost 2,000 Palestinians and 67 Israelis in the troubled hot spot in recent weeks.

Mr Brown said he hoped the meeting would send a message to global powers “to act responsibly to bring about both peace and security in what has become a war zone”.

“I think it is important for us to have a sense of understanding and compassion for what is going on in the world around us,” he told an audience at the Bermuda Industrial Union Headquarters, adding that he had been “horrified” by recent television news reports on the suffering and carnage in the region.

“The situation in Gaza is horrific and while we don’t have the power to bring about an end to the violence, we can come here and share our views and thoughts,” he said. “I hope we can help Bermudians have an appreciation and understanding of things beyond our shores. Our issues are really very minor compared to the issues that they are facing in the Middle East.

“We don’t have the power to alter the balance of power in the region or force people to come to the table and negotiate. But we do have the power of our voices to show our support for a peaceful resolution.

“I think we all want to see peace and a settlement in the area but in my view a settlement has to involve a Palestinian state as well as an Israeli state and we are a long way from that.”

Asked by one audience member if the Bermuda Government had taken a position publicly on the issue, Mr Brown said the Island was in “a really interesting constitutional position”. He pointed out that, as an Overseas Territory, Government does not have a foreign policy or conduct international relations, which are the remit of the United Kingdom.

“But I will undertake to encourage the Premier to make a statement on the issue and see if Government is prepared to take any action, mindful of its constitutional position.”

In 2010, Mr Brown, who was then a Government Senator, urged Britain to condemn an Israeli attack on a humanitarian aid ship which had been heading for Gaza.

“As a British colony, we don’t have an ability to act in any capacity in the international arena, but I think there are certain times when you need to add your voice in the chorus of condemnation of such an act,” he said at the time.