Israel pressed on two-state solution by EU ministers
Gazans sheltered on Monday from intense bombing and shooting in the city of Khan Yunis, as pressure built on Israel for an eventual two-state solution involving statehood long sought by Palestinians. Witnesses reported deadly strikes and fierce fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants overnight in the southern city which has become the latest epicentre of the war. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza reported on Monday that more than 120 people had been killed in the previous 24 hours. "Artillery shelling has not stopped since 5:00 am," said Yunis Abdel Razek, 52, sheltering with his family at the city's Al-Aqsa University. Mahdi Antar, 21, had sought refuge at Al-Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis. "The situation is terrifying. Tonight and today are very difficult, bombing and shooting. I do not know what to do. I think they will storm the hospital," he said. The strikes came as European Union foreign ministers held meetings in Brussels with top diplomats from the warring sides and key Arab states. The 27 EU ministers first met Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz before sitting down separately with the Palestinian Authority's top diplomat, Riyad al-Maliki. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told Israel "peace and stability cannot be built only by military means". "Which are the other solutions they have in mind? To make all the Palestinians leave? To kill off them?" Borrell said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn condemnation from the United Nations and defied the United States, which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid, by rejecting calls for a Palestinian state.  Maliki demanded the EU call for an immediate ceasefire and urged the bloc to consider sanctions against Netanyahu for "destroying the chances for a two-state solution". (AFP)