EU to help to stop arms trafficking to Gaza

The European Union (EU) is prepared to contribute to arrangements that prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition to the Gaza Strip, a statement here said.

The EU will also study options for an internationally-supervised mechanism to enable full access and movement through all Gaza ports of entry, Xinhua quoted a statement issued Friday after the EU foreign ministers' meeting as saying.

The European foreign ministers expressed great concern about the fragile situation following the recent conflict in the Gaza Strip.

They welcomed the ceasefire which has been in place recently and called on all the parties concerned to agree on and abide by a durable ceasefire.

The Palestinian and Israeli delegations in Cairo agreed to a further five-day ceasefire for their ongoing conflict in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip Wednesday night.

It is the third time for Egypt, after intensified indirect talks in Cairo, to broker a ceasefire between the armed Palestinian movement Hamas and Israel since the Israeli offensive on Gaza started July 8.