CAIRO: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius called Saturday for an “urgent” truce in Gaza and renewed support for an Egyptian initiative accepted by Israel but spurned by its Hamas foes.

Fabius issued the call at a Cairo press conference after talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi, who is rallying international support for Cairo’s cease-fire proposal while isolating Hamas.

The government of El-Sissi has accused Hamas of supporting militants on its own territory and has balked at giving in to their cease-fire demands.

“The cease-fire is an urgent imperative,” said Fabius, as the death toll mounted to 318 Palestinians and two Israelis in the 12-day Gaza conflict which Israel’s military launched with the declared aim of halting cross-border rocket fire by Hamas militants.

France “fully” back Egypt’s proposal, Fabius reiterated.

“The absolute priority is a cease-fire, but it must guarantee a lasting truce,” Fabius said, adding that it should take into account “Israel’s security” and Palestinian demands.

The foreign minister said he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a stopover in Amman.

Fabius has said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the West Bank leader supported by El-Sissi, asked for French help in lobbying Qatar and Turkey, which have good ties with Hamas, to pressure the militants.

Egypt has rejected Hamas demands to involve Turkey and Qatar — both regional rivals to the new government in Cairo — in the cease-fire efforts, Palestinian officials said.

“We are having a series of contacts today with all those who can influence that, notably Qataris and Turks,” Fabius told reporters.