EU calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza Strip

Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:37pm EST

PARIS Dec 30 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called on Tuesday for a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as pressure built on Israel to let humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

"We hope for a permanent ceasefire," Kouchner told TF1 television on the sidelines of a meeting in Paris of European Union foreign ministers called to discuss the violence in Gaza.

France, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union until Wednesday, has proposed a 48-hour ceasefire to allow aid into the Gaza Strip, which has been hit by four days of Israeli air strikes.

Israel, which launched the strikes in retaliation against rocket attacks from the Hamas-controlled area, has said it is willing to consider ways to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. (Writing by James Mackenzie)



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