Brussels, 28/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - Welcoming again the ceasefire of 26 August in the Middle East, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton called on the Israelis and Palestinians on Wednesday 27 August to negotiate “a comprehensive and sustainable agreement” that “should address all the root causes of the conflict and bring fundamental change to the situation in Gaza”. “Simply returning to the situation before the latest conflict is not an option”, Ashton's spokesperson stressed.
“The socio-economic conditions should be improved by ending the Gaza closure regime”, said Ashton's spokesperson, stating that the Palestinian government of national consensus, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, should exercise “effective administration of the Gaza Strip”. Hamas and other militant groups must stop all threats to Israel, Ashton's spokesperson added. “A durable peace can only be achieved through the resumption of the Middle East peace process, leading to a two-state solution”, the spokesperson stated.
“The EU is ready to contribute, together with the international community, to a lasting solution meeting the legitimate security, humanitarian and socio-economic needs of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples”, Ashton's spokesperson said, underlining that, following the ceasefire, the humanitarian situation in Gaza “must now be urgently addressed”. Numerous buildings have been destroyed by bombing, and the conflict has resulted in over 500,000 Gazans being displaced. In mid-August, Norway announced that the international donors for Palestine would meet to discuss financing the reconstruction of Gaza as soon as a lasting ceasefire agreement was concluded. (CG)