Malta calls for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza conflict

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - Malta’s prime minister on Tuesday called for a permanent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Robert Abela said the release of hostages was a first step forward, and diplomatic efforts should be stepped up to achieve a permanent cease-fire.

“We cannot afford to have more innocent civilians losing their lives,” Abela said during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.

“In my view, a permanent cease-fire is the only solution, this requires a genuine commitment from all parties involved to resolve their differences through dialogue, as well as international mediators, diplomatic efforts and pressure from the global community,” he said.

Malta, the EU’s smallest member state, holds a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the term 2023-2024.

A resolution drafted by Malta, which called for urgent humanitarian pauses in Gaza, was approved by the UN Security Council on Nov. 15. It was the first resolution to pass on Gaza since Oct. 7.

Qatar announced an agreement late Monday to extend a four-day humanitarian pause in the conflict for an additional two days, under which further prisoner exchanges will be carried out.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed more than 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.