FACTBOX: World leaders on proposal to stop Gaza smuggling

(Reuters) - Ceasefire proposals for the Gaza Strip are being discussed that would include international commitments, sought by Israel, to prevent Hamas from smuggling in arms from Egypt.

Following are comments made by world leaders about any such proposal. Quotes are from Tuesday unless stated:

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER EHUD OLMERT:

"The result of this operation must be, first and foremost, the end of smuggling of ammunition via the Philadelphi corridor into Gaza, in order to prevent murderous organizations from being able to fire."

FRENCH PRESIDENT NICOLAS SARKOZY:

"We are working on a joint initiative with our Egyptian friends. They themselves are prepared to put all the problems on the table so that each side can have confidence. I am thinking notably of the problems of contraband and the delivery of arms, which worry our Israeli friends. We know perfectly well that all this will be difficult," Sarkozy said on Monday.

MIDDLE EAST ENVOY TONY BLAIR:

"What is being talked about is a credible plan to stop the smuggling," Blair said in Jerusalem. "There is a clear understanding that for there to be this immediate ceasefire, we need something that allows us credibly to say we have changed the circumstances in Gaza."

Asked whether a ceasefire would be possible without an international commitment to stop the smuggling, Blair said: "I think it is very difficult unless there is a significant advance for the Israelis on security, which allows a significant advance in opening up Gaza to the outside world."

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN:

"I am hopeful that the basis on which an immediate ceasefire can take place can be found. It obviously depends on what we do on the crossings, what we do on the tunnels, what we do about the supply and trafficking in arms and what security we can give to both the Palestinian people and the Israeli people."

LEILA SHAHID, HEAD OF THE PALESTINIAN DELEGATION TO THE EU:

Shahid called on EU countries to join any international effort to monitor and police borders around Gaza, mirroring European participation in the extended UN force in southern Lebanon after the war of 2006.

"I think the Europeans were very happy about their success in 2006 ... That has been working rather well, since. It has ensured Israel some peace from rockets coming from south Lebanon and it has ensured the Lebanese government a calm situation in south Lebanon. I think we should really try to do the same."

ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER TZIPI LIVNI:

"The smuggling of weapons is one of the major problems that we face. During the truce that Israel accepted according to the Egyptian initiative, Hamas used this period of time in order to gain more and more weapons coming from Iran.