Int´l calls for Gaza cease-fire

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-06-2009 10:03

Diplomatic efforts to end the violence in Gaza have gathered pace with the rising number of civilian Palestinian deaths continuing to provoke international outrage.

Jordan's Queen Rania attends a press conference at the UNICEF office in Amman.  (AFP/Khalil Mazraawi)

Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is meeting both Israeli and Palestinian leaders in an effort to broker a cease-fire.

Diplomats and European leaders are racing around the Middle East, hoping to broker a cease-fire in Gaza.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who unsuccessfully proposed a two-day truce before the Israeli ground invasion began, arrived for meetings with Palestinian and Israeli leaders on Monday afternoon.

Sarkozy told Palestinians he would press hard on Israeli leaders for a cease-fire.

Nicolas Sarkozy, French President, said, "I'll tell them once again, with all the frankness that one owes a friend, the violence must stop and attempts to get aid into the area must be facilitated."

In a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, Sarkozy said he considers the safety of Israel a priority and that rocket firing by Hamas is unacceptable.

Sarkozy is not the only European leader in the region. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem.