Czech EU presidency urges both sides in Middle East to respect Security Council resolution

The Czech presidency of the European Union has urged both sides in the current conflict in the Middle East to respect a UN Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire. In a statement, the EU presidency expressed sincere sympathy to the families of Palestinian and Israeli victims; it repeated a call for both sides to halt their military activities immediately, saying only that would allow the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid desperately needed in the Gaza Strip.