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28 December 2008 - 12H46
Sarkozy calls for immediate halt to Gaza violence
French President Nicolas Sarkozy issued a statement Saturday to express "his profound concern at the escalation of violence" in the Gaza Strip. He called for an "immediate end" to Palestinian rocket attacks and Israeli air strikes.
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AFP - French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Saturday for an immediate halt to Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel and Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, his office said.
"The President of the Republic expresses his profound concern at the escalation of violence in the south of Israel and the Gaza Strip. He strongly condemns the irresponsible provocations which led to this situation as well as the disproportionate use of force," the Elysee Palace said.
It said that Sarkozy "deplores the heavy civilian losses and expresses his condolences to the innocent victims and their families."
He "demands the immediate end to rocket fire on Israel as well as to Israeli bombardments of Gaza and calls on both sides to show restraint. He reminds them that there is no military solution in Gaza and calls for the conclusion of a lasting truce."
The Palestinian Hamas group which controls the Gaza Strip said at least 155 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Saturday in massive Israeli air strikes.
Hamas said it had retaliated with rocket fire which Israeli medics said killed at least one person in the southern town of Netivot.
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