French foreign minister Laurent Fabius on reuters ahead of a meeting with US sec of state Kerry, UK’s Hague and Germany’s Steinmeier
- securing a ceasefire for the Gaza strip and preventing an escalation of the latest outbreak of hostilities was the top priority for France
In Gaza and Israel the absolute priority is a ceasefire. In this context of a dangerous escalation, France asks for a return to the 2012 ceasefire
In latest developments Israel has carried out overnight air strikes against Gaza’s security headquarters and police stations, in the heaviest bombardment since operations began on 8 July. In addition thousands have fled their homes in a Gaza town today after Israel warned them to leave ahead of threatened attacks on rocket-launching sites, on the sixth day of an offensive that Palestinian officials say has killed at least 160 people so far.
Reuters has this and the BBC carries more here
The conflict sadly continues to cast its shadow over the markets
