EU: Bloodshed in Gaza 'needs to stop immediately'

The European Union has called for an immediate end to the “bloodshed” in Gaza, after nearly four weeks of non-stop Israeli raids on the coastal enclave.

In a joint statement issued yesterday, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy urged an “immediate end” to the bloodbath.

“Gaza has been suffering from intolerable violence for more than three weeks already. We deplore the terrible loss of lives, including innocent women and children. Many have been injured, property and livelihoods have been destroyed. This needs to stop immediately,” the statement read.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, the Israel’s so-called “Operation Protective Edge” has killed at least 1,830 Palestinians and injured over 9,370 others as of Sunday morning.

According to Israeli sources, 64 Israeli soldiers and three civilians were killed, and more than 530 were wounded, most suffering panic attacks. The Izz Ad-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, said it killed 161 Israeli soldiers and captured another.