EU to hold urgent talks on Israel-Palestinian conflict Tuesday

European Union foreign ministers will hold urgent video talks regarding the deadly conflict between Israel and the Palestinians on Tuesday, the bloc's foreign policy chief said.

"In view of the ongoing escalation between Israel and Palestine and the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, I am convening an extraordinary VTC of the EU Foreign Ministers on Tuesday," Josep Borrell wrote on Twitter Sunday.

"We will coordinate and discuss how the EU can best contribute to end the current violence."

More than 174 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip since Monday, while at least eight people in Israel have died as a result of rocket attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian factions.

The fighting started after a series of Israeli provocations in occupied east Jerusalem. Hamas began firing rockets at Israel after security forces attacked worshippers holding a sit-in protest at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring hundreds.

The EU says Borrell has been conducting "intense" diplomatic efforts to try to help de-escalate the violence -- holding talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and the top diplomats from neighbouring nations.

"The EU's priority and message in this context remains clear: violence must end now," the bloc's foreign service said in a statement Saturday.

The EU's 27 nations often struggle to find a common position over the conflict with some members including Germany, Austria and Slovenia taking firmly pro-Israel positions while other countries have adopted a more nuanced approach.

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