EU appeals for respect of ceasefire in Gaza

BRUSSELS, Aug 1 (KUNA) -- The European Union Friday regretted that the 72-hour ceasefire in Gaza agreed earlier between Israelis and Palestinians has not been put in place.
"We welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire and we believe that it is absolutely necessary for this ceasefire to be respected and put in place and most important that it brings to an end in loss of civilian lives," Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, told a news conference.
"We will of course follow developments very closely and we commend all the efforts to broker this deal and we again very much hope to see the ceasefire in place," she added.
According to media reports, the Israeli military has told people in Gaza it will resume bombings just hours after a 72-hour ceasefire had begun.
Health authorities in Gaza said at least 30 Palestinians were killed and many more injured in an Israeli attack near the southern town of Rafah just after the ceasefire began. (end) nk.gta