The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, which is based in Malta, has appealed to all parties for an immediate halt to all forms of violence in the Middle East.

While recognising Israel's security concerns regarding the firing of rockets from Gaza, PAM said it was Israel's obligation to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law and condemned the excessive use of force leading to the killing and injuring of civilians. At the same time, it also condemned the ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas militants and was deeply distressed that repeated calls for the attacks to end went unheeded.

PAM also reiterated its call for humanitarian supplies to be allowed into Gaza to assist the affected civilian population.

It said it was ready to facilitate, as required, the efforts by the UN secretary general to bring a swift end to the violence in cooperation with the others, namely the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United States.

PAM said it was convinced that peace and security were achievable goals, which its members would leave no stone unturned to reach.

A PAM delegation is visiting the region in May 2009 to re-launch the parliamentary diplomacy among the countries concerned.

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