S&D Members condemn the death of civilians, particularly the killing of children, in the Gaza crisis, and call for an immediate end to violence and for the resumption of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

S&D vice-president Victor Boştinaru MEP said today:

"More than 200 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians – including many children – have been killed in the Gaza Strip and more than 1000 rockets have been fired by Hamas and Palestinian militants into Israel. The ongoing crisis serves neither Israeli nor Palestinian interests. The response to this cannot be more violence and further suffering for the civilian populations on both sides.

"We therefore call for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict through an end to the rocket attacks from Gaza and the Israeli military operation, and the resolution adopted today in plenary with a large majority makes the European Parliament's position on this clear.

"We welcome today's temporary humanitarian cease-fire, which may be a first step on this path. We also support all efforts towards a permanent truce, and we regret Hamas' decision to reject the Egyptian initiative, which was accepted by the Israeli government. 

"International humanitarian law must be respected by all sides involved in the conflict. Rocket attacks targeting civilians and the use of human shields by Hamas and Palestinian militants cannot be justified. Israel has to fully respect its obligations under international law as well, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

"Both Israeli and Palestinian citizens have the right to live in peace and security. This can only be achieved through peace talks. Therefore, we call for serious and credible efforts by both sides and the international community to resume direct talks and to achieve concrete and tangible results.

"The European Union has a major role to play in this field. Therefore, we call for a European peace initiative and plan, and for the use of all the legal, economic and political leverage at the EU's disposal to find a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.