Statement by the Spokesperson on rocket fire from Gaza and on-going retaliation operations of the Israeli Defence Forces

With rocket attacks against Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and the bombardment of more than a hundred targets in the Gaza Strip, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians escalated further on the 8 July 2014 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army to prepare for a ground offensive. This step goes too far, some commentators wrote. Others cautioned Israel to react with restraint to Hamas' provocation.

The UN Security Council convened for a special meeting on the escalation of the Gaza crisis on the 10 July 2014.

• Primary Source

Euronews, 07.07.14: Middle East: violence threatens to spiral out of control http://www.euronews.com/2014/07/07/middle-eastviolence-threatens-to-spiral-out-of-control/

Euronews, 08.07.14: At least 17 dead as Israel steps up offensive against Hamas http://www.euronews.com/2014/07/08/at-least-17-dead-as-israel-steps-up-offensive-against-hamas/

ESO: Background information: EU states promote settler boycott amid Israel crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-states-promote-settler-boycott-amid-israel-crisis/

BBC News, 08.07.14: Hamas fires rockets at Israeli cities after Gaza offensive http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-28222245

EU: EEAS: The EU and the Middle East Peace Process http://eeas.europa.eu/mepp/index_en.htm

EUObserver, 09.07.14: EU 'deplores' Israeli killing of civilians http://euobserver.com/news/124911

Euro|Topics, 09.07.14: Israel prepares for ground offensive http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER146520-Israel-prepares-for-ground-offensive

Euro|Topics, 10.07.14: UN Security Council discusses Gaza crisis http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER146601-UN-Security-Council-discusses-Gaza-crisis

EU: EEAS: Press Release, 08.07.14: Statement by the Spokesperson on rocket fire from Gaza and on-going retaliation operations of the Israeli Defence Forces http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140708_02_en.pdf

EUObserver, 11.07.14: EU sees likelihood of Israeli ground attack on Gaza http://euobserver.com/foreign/124956

Euronews, 12.07.14: More than 120 Palestinians killed as Israel continues Gaza offensive http://www.euronews.com/2014/07/12/more-than-120-palestinians-killed-as-israel-continues-gaza-offensive/

Amnesty International: News, 11.07.14: Israel/Gaza: UN must impose arms embargo and mandate an international investigation as civilian death toll rises http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/israelgaza-un-must-impose-arms-embargo-and-mandate-international-investigation-civilian-death-t

Euro|Topics: Who's saying what: Violence erupts in the Middle East http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/debatten/links-2014-07-gewaltnahost/

Euro|Topics, 15.07.14: Hamas rejects ceasefire with Israel http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER146849-Hamas-rejects-ceasefire-with-Israel

EUObserver [Opinion], 18.07.14: Time for EU to put real pressure on Israel http://euobserver.com/opinion/125032

Deutsche Welle, 17.07.14: With little clout in Mideast, EU urges calm http://dw.de/p/1Ceh4

Council of the European Union: Press Release, PRES/14/416: Declaration on behalf of the European Union on the escalation in the Gaza Strip http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/144043.pdf

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