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Protesters call for peace in Gaza Strip

The demonstrators called on Israel to stop their attacks on the Gaza Strip Keystone

An estimated 800 people have marched through the capital, Bern, to protest against Israel’s policy in the Gaza Strip. They called for an unconditional end to the blockade of the Palestinian territory.

The demonstrators appealed to support of the Palestinian population and Israeli peace activists.

Speakers urged the Swiss government to organise an international conference on humanitarian law and to scrap plans to buy military drones from Israel as well as to suspend all other forms of military cooperation with the country.

Saturday’s protest outside Bern’s city centre was supported by nearly 60 groups, including centre-left political parties and trade unions.

Meanwhile, Egypt has called on Israel and the Palestinians to accept an indefinite ceasefire and to resume indirect talks to end the Gaza crisis.

The foreign ministry in Cairo said it was ready to mediate.

A previous Egyptian-brokered truce collapsed on Tuesday.

More than 2,000 Palestinians and 67 Israelis have been killed in the conflict over the past few weeks.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR