Pakistan, June 27 -- BRUSSELS - European Union leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages, urging a permanent end to the ongoing conflict. The appeal came during a summit of the 27 member states held in Brussels on Thursday.

In their official statement, the European Council stressed the urgency of halting the violence. "The European Council calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages, leading to a permanent end to hostilities," the leaders said in their written conclusions.

The call for peace comes as the EU continues to review a critical report examining Israel's compliance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This article ties poli...