Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders Thursday expressed "extreme concern" about the escalating violence in the Gaza conflict.
"The images and reports of operations in progress are shocking and leave no one indifferent, especially when women and children are the victims," he said in a statement.
Reynders condemned in the strongest terms all violations of international law by all parties to the conflict and called them to respect the neutrality and inviolability of schools and hospitals. "It is intolerable and moreover illegal that such buildings, that are under the auspices of the United Nations, provide a place for storage or launching of rockets or are targets of air strikes. All incidents must be investigated and those responsible must be prosecuted," he said.
Reynders reiterated his call to all parties to introduce a ceasefire leading to a lasting solution to the situation in Gaza.
"Only the revival of the peace process will eventually resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," he said and noted that the EU is available to play a political role in this regard, along with the United States and other partners.