PARIS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- France regretted fresh Gaza violence, urging both Palestinians and Israelis to show restraint and work together to end conflict peacefully, the country's foreign ministry said on Thursday.
"France... condemns the firing of rockets towards Israel and wishes that restraint prevails and the cease-fire be respected by all the parties in order to avoid new civilian casualties," the ministry said in a press release.
The ministry added violence escalation mirrored the urgent need to reach a political solution to end the conflict mainly by addressing the humanitarian crisis affecting the Palestinian population via blockade removal and respecting Israel's security.
"France, with its European partners, will remain fully mobilized to support the efforts undertaken in this direction," the ministry said.
Israeli fighter jets struck Hamas military compound and tunnels in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, amid the second day of violent escalation between Israel and Hamas, officials said.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said three people were killed in the attacks: a 23-year-old pregnant woman, her 18-month-old baby and a Hamas fighter. At least 12 others were wounded.
The recent flare-up began on Wednesday evening, when Gaza militants fired rockets towards the southern Israeli city of Sderot, injuring about nine people.
