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EU calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Abbas in 'urgent contact' with other states

AFP, Brussels/Ramallah
The French presidency of the European Union called yesterday for an immediate halt to Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and rocket fire against Israel from Gaza, where Israeli air strikes were reported to have killed at least 155 Palestinians.
The EU presidency "expresses greatest concern at the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and deplores the very large number of civilian victims,'' a statement said.
"It condemns, the Israeli bombardments as well as the firing of rockets from Gaza. It demands their immediate halt. It condemns the disproportionate use of force."
A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana earlier Saturday said, "We arc very concerned by the events in Gaza."
"We are calling for an immediate ceasefire and the maximum restraint.
Everything must be done to reinstate tire truce" declared by the Palestinian I lamas movement controlling Gaza, which expired on December 19.
Stressing that there was no military solution possible in Gaza, the French statement called for a lasting truce to be concluded and encouraged "the efforts of neighbouring countries, in particular Egypt, which can enable this objective to be attained. "
It also urged for all crossing points out of Gaza to be reopened and deliveries of aid and fuel to be resumed, as well as free access for international humanitarian organisations, journalists and diplomats, which Israel has blocked.
Earlier Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said yesterday that he was in "ur gent contact" with numerous countries over the deadly Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
"We have carried out urgent contacts with numerous Arab countries and other
nations to stop the cowardly aggressions and massacres in the Gaza Strip," Abbas told AFP from Saudi Arabia which he is currently visiting.
The Islamist Hamas movement that controls Gaza said Saturday's Israeli attacks killed at least 155 people
The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), presided over by Abbas, called for a strike and protests in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Hundreds of Palestinians demon strated in the centre of Ramallah. One placard read "We will not forget you, Gaza.”
Abbas told AFP he had called Jordan’s King Abdullah II and would also be contacting King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Egypt yesterday condemned a wave of Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip that killed at least 155 Palestinians, and said it would open its Rafah border crossing with the besieged territory.