German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday called for a swift ceasefire in the Palestinian territory of Gaza after holding a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Tzipi Livni.

In a statement published on the website of the Foreign Ministry, Steinmeier said a humanitarian ceasefire was needed in view of the continued fighting and the deteriorating humanitarian situation faced by the residents of Gaza.

Steinmeier said he proposed during his visits to Israel and Egypt over the weekend a work plan for creating conditions for the ceasefire. The plan mainly includes ensuring the security of the borders through effective consultations and preventing the smuggling of weapons into Gaza.

He urged all relevant parties to work effectively toward the goal of a ceasefire.

The ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza, which began late December, has killed over 950 Palestinians in the coastal strip.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2009)