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Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (R, front)
speaks after approval of the resolution calling for ceasefire between
Israel and Hamas in Gaza during the United Nations Security Council
meeting on Gaza crisis at the UN headquarters in New York, the United
States, Jan. 8, 2009.(Xinhua/Hou Jun)Photo Gallery>>> |
PRAGUE, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Friday hailed a UN
Security Council resolution on the Gaza conflict and called for restraint from
Israel and Hamas to prevent further escalation of the tensions.
The EU welcomes the agreement reached by the Security Council in New York
and calls on all parties to fully implement the resolution, which calls for a
ceasefire, the Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU rotating presidency,
said in a statement.
"The presidency is deeply concerned over the continuing Israeli military
action in Gaza and the continuation of indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israel,"
the statement said.
The EU repeated its call for an immediate ceasefire on both sides, saying
there must be an unconditional halt to rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel and an
end to Israeli military actions.
It is also concerned that humanitarian convoys have been fired upon and
humanitarian staff killed, which had resulted in the disruption of humanitarian
operations.
It called on Israel to work with humanitarian organizations, and urged the
Jewish state to open its border crossings with Gaza to allow movement of
persons, humanitarian aid and commercial goods.
The EU believed that the two state solution remained the best hope for a
lasting peace, said the statement.
"The recent crisis only serves to show that urgent progress in the peace
process is needed more than ever," it said, adding that the Czech EU presidency
will urge the parties to advance the peace process in 2009.
Security Council calls for immediate
ceasefire in Gaza
UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday
adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza "leading to the
full withdrawal of Israeli forces."
The 15-nation council approved the resolution with 14 voting in favor. The
United States abstained. Full story
