PARIS, March 27 (KUNA) -- France expressed deep concern late Friday after clashes erupted between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants on the Gaza border, leaving six dead, including two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinian militants.
A statement from the French Foreign Ministry said that France condemned the attack that led to the clashes and lamented the ongoing loss of life in the protracted conflict.
"France firmly condemns the attack which cost the life today of two Israeli soldiers at the frontier of the Gaza Strip," the statement said, omitting to mention any loss of life on the Palestinian side in the clash.
However, the Foreign Ministry did express regret for the continuous deaths related to the Israeli-Palestinian situation. "Too many Israeli and Palestinian lives have already been lost, even this week with the death, notably, of four young Palestinians in the West Bank." The youths were shot by Israeli soldiers during demonstrations against ongoing Israeli settlement-building and encroachment on Arab areas in East Jerusalem.
"France expresses its very deep concern and calls on the parties to show the greatest restraint," the Foreign Ministry affirmed.
"To give in to the temptation of escalation can only bring about a new cycle of violence and play the game of the extremists," it added. (end) jk.ema KUNA 270901 Mar 10NNNN