CEASEFIRE “INDESPENSIBLE”
Israeli forces since late September have escalated operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, as the war against Hezbollah’s ally, Palestinian militants Hamas, continues in the Gaza Strip.
“Only a few miles away from Cyprus, we have a war. We have a difficult situation,” Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said as he opened the summit.
Known as MED9, the grouping also brought together leaders from Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia and Croatia, along with the king of Jordan, Abdullah II, for the one-day meeting in the city of Paphos.
Christodoulides said MED9 called for an end to hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon, and a resumption of talks.
