The EU Presidency strongly condemns yesterday’s (10/6/03) rocket attacks by IDF in Gaza, which resulted in killing at least 5 Palestinians and wounding many others. This kind of retaliation and extra judicial killings perpetuate the cycle of violence and further deteriorate the security environment.

These attacks, that coincide with the first steps of the implementation of the Roadmap following the pledges taken by both sides in Aqaba, undermine the peace efforts and complicate further PM’s Abbas attempts to halt violence and terrorism by Palestinian factions. In this crucial period, we call upon both parties to abstain from acts of violence and to remain committed to the path of negotiations, which is the only way to satisfy the people’s need for peace and security.