The president of the European Parliament has appealed to Israeli and Hamas leaders to end their conflict.

Hans-Gert Poettering read a declaration Monday on behalf of all 785 EU lawmakers in the Parliament urging both sides to sign "an immediate and permanent ceasefire" to ease the plight of civilians caught in the crossfire.

Poettering called for Israel to allow immediate unfettered access to the Gaza Strip by UN and other aid workers.

The appeal came as Israel tightened a military cordon around the Palestinian territory. Gaza officials say the Israeli offensive, which was launched Dec. 27, has killed 910 Palestinians.

The operation is meant to halt Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, have died.