Brussels, 08/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a press release on Wednesday 7 January, the Greens state that the partial ceasefire (three hours a day) announced by Israel is insufficient. They call on the Council to immediately provide for an EU-led international peacekeeping force to be deployed in Gaza. Commenting on the situation in Gaza, Monica Frassoni and Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-Presidents of the Greens/EFA Group, call on Israel and Hamas to agree to the terms of the Franco-Egyptian ceasefire deal backed by the United Nations and the United States. “The most urgent step is to allow the supply of humanitarian aid - water, food and medical care - and the entry of humanitarian personnel to alleviate the suffering of the population in Gaza. The key elements for a truce are already clear. Negotiations must now begin without delay and involve all parties concerned. Hamas must stop launching rockets on Israeli territory and illicit tunnels must be closed to stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. In return, and at the same time, the borders to Gaza should be opened and allow unrestricted access of aid”, the two MEPs say. They also assert that “the European Parliament has been vindicated in its decision last month to refuse to consider a demand by Council to upgrade relations with Israel”. (O.J./transl.jl)