EU ministers meet on Gaza crisis

European Union foreign ministers are scheduled to gather in Paris on Tuesday evening for an urgent meeting on the crisis in Gaza, with France and Germany both seeking a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

Most of the European Union's 27 members are sending foreign ministers or their deputies to the talks, which are being hosted by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, said ministry spokesman Romain Nadal.

Germany said its foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has spoken with Israeli, Egyptian and Syrian officials to sound out the possibility of a "humanitarian cease-fire" in Gaza.

Steinmeier also discussed the situation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday.

The German Foreign Ministry said Steinmeier wanted explore ways to ease delivery of aid to people in Gaza and allow diplomatic efforts to create a permanent cease-fire. Germany said its deputy foreign minister, Guenter Gloser, would attend the meeting in Paris.

France, which holds the EU's rotating presidency until Thursday, when the Czech Republic takes over, called again for an end to the fighting in Gaza. Nadal, the French spokesman, said the population in Hamas-ruled Gaza needs humanitarian aid, and border points should be reopened so aid gets through.

The European Commission asked Israel to allow relief workers into the Gaza area. In a statement Tuesday, the European Commission asked Israel "to open up the humanitarian space" so aid and relief workers can reach the Gaza area.

And Norway announced Tuesday that it is giving 30 million kroner ($4.3 million) in immediate humanitarian aid for residents of the Gaza.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said hospitals in Gaza need medical equipment urgently. Norway's donation will be channeled through humanitarian organizations and U.N. agencies.

More than 370 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began attacks directed against Gaza's Hamas rulers on Saturday, shortly after a six-month truce expired. Most of the dead were members of Hamas security forces but the number included at least 64 civilians, according to U.N. figures.