European Union Foreign Ministers on Monday urged a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza crisis and condemned rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip "which must cease immediately", while calling on Israel to react "proportionately" to the attacks.
Meeting in Brussels, the EU ministers expressed "grave concern about the situation in Gaza and Israel" and said the EU "deeply regrets the loss of civilian life on both sides."
"All attacks must end immediately as they cause unjustifiable suffering of innocent civilians," says the text.
"The European Union strongly condemns the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip, which Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza must cease immediately. There can be no justification for the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians," the EU declaration adds.
"Israel has the right to protect its population from these kind of attacks; in doing so it must act proportionately and ensure the protection of civilians at all times."
More than 880 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza since Israel launched 'Operation Pillar of Defense' last Wednesday.
The ministers stressed that the current situation "underlines once more the urgent need to move towards a two-state solution allowing both sides to live side-by-side in peace and security."
British Foreign Minister William Hague made clear that Britain blames Gaza's Hamas rulers for precipitating the conflict. He also urged Israel to "de-escalate" the violence.
"The continuation of rocket fire from Gaza onto Israel, in our view, has precipitated the current crisis. We want efforts to negotiate a ceasefire to succeed. I spoke to the Egyptian Foreign Minister about that yesterday and Egypt are making strong efforts in that regard, with our support," Hague said in Brussels.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle left Monday for a visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories.