German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his concern Sunday at the escalation in fighting triggered by Israel's ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, according to dpa. "The latest military action has sent hopes of an early cessation of hostilities receding into the distance," the minister said in a statement released in Berlin. Steinmeier discussed the situation in separate telephone calls on Sunday with his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He called for speedy efforts to ensure "the dramatic humanitarian situation" in Gaza does not deteriorate and urgently needed relief supplies can be distributed to the population, his ministry said.
