SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (AFP) — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Monday for all sides in the Gaza conflict to work towards a durable ceasefire and condemned continued rocket attacks on Israel.
"I am troubled by the continuing rocket attacks coming out of Gaza," Clinton said at a press conference following an international donor conference to raise funds for rebuilding Gaza.
"We call upon all (parties) to move toward a durable ceasefire," she said.
"But it is very difficult for any country to just sit and take rockets falling on its people, that is the crux of the Israeli problem. How are they supposed to respond when they continue to have that kind of attack."
Egypt has been trying to mediate a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas since the end of the Jewish state's three-week war on the Gaza Strip on January 18.
But Israel has linked any truce and a lifting of its blockade of Gaza to the release of a soldier captured by Gaza militants in June 2006.
On the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Clinton said: "The US is prepared to engage in aggressive diplomacy with all sides in pursuit of a comprehensive settlement that brings peace and security to Israel and its Arab neighbours."
Clinton is due to leave Egypt for talks with Israeli leaders on Tuesday on Middle East peace efforts.
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