TUNIS
Tunisia and France agreed on Sunday to work for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the embattled Gaza Strip, where 166 have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since Monday.
Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki and his French counterpart Francois Hollande discussed the escalating situation in Gaza over the phone, the Tunisian presidency said in a statement.
"Both countries agreed to work together, and in tandem with other partners, to reach an urgent ceasefire," it added.
At least 166 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes since late Monday.
Israel has launched a military offensive – dubbed "Operation Protective Edge" – against the Gaza Strip with the stated aim of ending rocket fire from the enclave.
Gaza-based resistance factions, for their part, have continued to fire hundreds of rockets into Israel, some of which have reached Tel Aviv, in response to the ongoing offensive.
No Israeli fatalities have been reported thus far.
By Ayman Gamali
http://www.aa.com.tr/en
