BRUSSELS, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, urged on Thursday the fighting parties in Gaza to accept a humanitarian truce to allow injured people to be evacuated and basic assistance-- food, water and medical aid -- to be delivered.

    "I am appalled by the current situation in Gaza that is preventing humanitarian workers from assisting people in desperate need," Michel said in a statement.

    Security conditions in the Strip have forced the humanitarian partners of the European Commission in Gaza temporarily to halt their work.

    "We are fully committed to helping the suffering people of Gaza and to upholding fundamental humanitarian principles. The assistance must resume as soon as possible," added Michel.

    Earlier on Thursday, the fighting between rival Hamas and Fatah movements in Gaza killed 16 Palestinians, most of them are Fatah members, pan-Arab satellite television al-Jazeera reported.

    The commissioner thus announced that the European Union (EU) has suspended its humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and urged all Palestinian parties to end violence.

    Last year, the European Commission provided 84 million euros (112 million U.S. dollars) for humanitarian operations in the Palestinian Territories and 60 million euros has been earmarked for this year so far.