OTTAWA (AFP) — Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon called for a "sustainable and durable" ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip after nearly 400 Palestinians have died since Israeli air raids began Saturday.
Cannon spoke to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and several of his counterparts, including US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Tzipi Livni of Israel, Palestinian diplomatic chief Riyad al-Maliki, France's Bernard Kouchner and Egypt's Ahmed Abul Gheit.
"Minister Cannon repeated Canada's call to all parties to reach a sustainable and durable ceasefire. The Minister reiterated his grave and growing concern with the loss of lives and suffering, and the disturbing humanitarian situation," the ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.
"He also called on all parties and the international community to commit to the peace process."
Cannon also repeated that "the deliberate and constant targeting of civilians by Hamas was the main reason for these unfortunate events."
The Canadian diplomatic chief urged his counterparts to "take additional steps to ensure humanitarian access to those in need in Gaza."
The ministry advised against all travel to Gaza.
As diplomats scrambled to find a way to stop one of Israel's deadliest ever offensives against the Gaza Strip -- which has so far killed nearly 400 Palestinians -- the UN Security Council began consultations on a draft resolution about the Gaza conflict proposed by Libya on behalf of a group of Arab countries, diplomats said.
The Islamist movement Hamas, which has controlled the Palestinian enclave since June 2007, vowed to fight "until the last breath" if Israel makes good on threats to send ground troops into Gaza after rejecting calls for a truce and pressing on with its air assault.
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