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                Ministers Call for Extension of Gaza Cease-Fire

   by VOA News

   Foreign ministers from seven nations on Saturday called for an
   extension of the 12-hour cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the
   Gaza Strip, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.

   "All of us call on the parties to extend the military cease-fire that
   is currently underway,'' Fabius told reporters after a gathering that
   included the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, Italy,
   Qatar, Turkey and the United States.

   An EU official also attended the meeting at the French Foreign
   Ministry.

   Situation in Gaza

   Palestinian militants clashed with the Israeli military just before a
   12-hour cease-fire went into effect in Gaza Saturday morning (05:00
   UTC).

   A Hamas official said the militant group would observe the break in
   hostilities.

   Israel said its security forces would continue searching during the
   lull  for tunnels used by Palestinian militants.

   Gaza health officials say rescue workers have recovered at least 40
   bodies from the rubble since the truce began.

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday the cease-fire is in
   honor of Eid - the Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

   He said the truce would be used to bring all sides together to look at
   the underlying issues that have led to weeks of deadly violence between
   Israelis and Palestinians.

   Kerry is in Paris Saturday, continuing his efforts towards a permanent
   cease-fire.  He says  the whole world is wondering when both sides will
   come to their senses.

   Israel's more than 2-weeks long  air and ground campaign against Hamas
   rocket attacks from Gaza has killed more than 800 Palestinians.  Most
   of the victims have been civilians, including many children.
   Thirty-two Israeli solders and two Israeli civilians have died.

   Israel is demanding Gaza be demilitarized and insists it has the right
   to defend itself against terrorist rocket attacks.

   Palestinians want an end to Israeli and Egyptian blockades on Gaza,
   which have strangled the economy and prevented Palestinians from
   traveling.

   Some information for this report provided by Reuters.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/gaza-cease-fire-takes-effect/1965696.html