EU Commissioner welcomes truce between Israel and Hamas

Thursday June 19, 2008 03:50 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Benita Ferrero -Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy, issued a statement on Wednesday welcoming the announcement of a truce between Israel and the Hamas movement.

Benita Ferrero -Waldner

In her statement, Ferrero-Waldner said that she welcomes this truce which was brokered by Egypt and expressed appreciation to the Egyptian efforts and role in facilitating this agreement which “would end the suffering of the people of Gaza and southern Israel”.

She added that she is awaiting the implementation of this deal which should take effect on Thursday morning and expressed hopes that this deal would lead to “a lasting peace” which would enable the opening of border crossings in the Gaza Strip in order to ensure a regular flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods.

Ferrero-Waldner added that the EU is willing to resume its mission in monitoring the Rafah Border Crossing, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip as soon s the conditions allow.

 She further stated that the cessation of violence will definitely create an environment which supports peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and added that the EU is committed to supporting a peace deal between tthe Palestinian Authority and Israel by the end of this year.

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