France condemned Saturday Israeli ground attack in the Gaza Strip, saying the military action has complicated efforts by the international community to find a truce in the region.
"France condemns the Israeli ground offensive against Gaza as it condemns the continuation of rocket firing (by Hamas against Israel)," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday evening.
"This dangerous military escalation complicates the efforts by the international community, in particular the European Union and France, the Quartet members and the states of the (Middle East) region to end the fighting, bring immediate aid to civilians and reach a permanent ceasefire," the statement said.
The Middle East Quartet refers to the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations.
Israel sent ground forces into the Gaza Strip on Saturday after more than a week of air strikes since Dec. 27, 2008, which had left more than 450 people dead and thousands of others injured.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to begin his Middle East trip on Monday to try to push a truce between Israel and Hamas.
Source:Xinhua
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