The European Union on Sunday condemned what it called «disproportionate use of force» by the Israeli military in Gaza after 54 Palestinians were killed in the highest single day toll since fighting erupted in 2000, AP reported. In a statement, the EU urged Israel to halt activities that endanger civilians saying they were «contrary to international law.» It also called for an immediate end to Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli territory and insisted that the peace process should not be interrupted. «The (EU) presidency condemns the recent disproportionate use of force by the Israeli Defense Forces against Palestinian population in Gaza and urges Israel to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from all activities that endanger civilians. Such activities are contrary to international law,» said the statement issued by the Slovene government on behalf of the EU. Slovenia currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. «The Presidency rejects collective punishment of the people of Gaza. We are deeply worried about the suffering of the civilian population on Israeli and Palestinian side,» the EU added. «We have stated too many times that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in peace and security.»
