EU renews call for 'immediate ceasefire' in Lebanon 

Brussels (AFP): The European Union foreign policy chief renewed calls for an "immediate ceasefire" in Lebanon and condemned Israel's "unacceptable attacks" on UN peacekeepers in its war against Hezbollah.

UNIFIL, deployed in southern Lebanon since 1978, has reported several injuries and damage to its facilities since Israel launched its ground offensive at the end of September.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Hezbollah is using the force as "human shields" and called on it to withdraw.

The European Union calls "for an immediate ceasefire across the blue lines" UNIFIL monitors and the respect of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told a forum in Barcelona.

Borrell also spoke of "condemning the unacceptable attacks" by Israeli forces against UNIFIL structures and personnel.

Referring to UN warnings that Gaza's humanitarian crisis was the worst since World War II, Borrell said the forum gathering leaders from the Mediterranean region must do more than "just expressing concern".

"The way this war is being taken against civilians has grave concerns and put too many unanswered questions."