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France welcomes cease-fire between Israel, Palestinians

PARIS, Aug 27 (KUNA) -- France has welcomed an open-ended cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians and hoped for reaching a "permanent solution" under the watch of the Egyptians to end this conflict.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in a press statement Tuesday evening that "France welcomes the cease-fire in Gaza and both sides should show respect to this truce." Fabius added that his country encourages the Israelis and the Palestinians to continue negotiations under Egypt's mediation to reach a permanent solution that end siege in Gaza and provides security for Israel.
He stressed that France will work with its European partners and with the UN Security Council to help in resolving this ongoing conflict.
On Tuesday evening, a deal, which was mediated in Cairo, took effect and called for an indefinite halt to hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's blockaded crossings with Israel and Egypt and a widening of the territory's fishing zone in the Mediterranean.
Palestinian health officials say 2,139 people, most of them civilians, including more than 490 children, have been killed in the enclave since July 8, when Israel launched an offensive with the declared aim of ending rocket salvoes.
Sixty-four Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel have been killed - a civilian died after the ceasefire was announced from a mortar attack earlier in the day. (end) amm.nfm