EU warmly welcomes the 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza – EU statement/Non-UN document

Brussels, 05 August 2014

140801/01

S T A T E M E N T

by the Spokesperson on the ceasefire in Gaza

“We warmly welcome the announcement of a 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and call on all parties to respect its terms. There must be an immediate end to the loss of civilian lives. The firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip must stop.

We commend all efforts, particularly those of Egypt, to broker this deal and hope that this can be extended into a lasting ceasefire.

We call on the parties not to miss this opportunity.

We reiterate that the European Union stands ready to contribute to a comprehensive and sustainable solution meeting the legitimate security, humanitarian and socio-economic needs of the Israeli and Palestinian people.”