The Spanish foreign affairs minister said on Monday that protecting civilians and children should be the top priority in Israel and Palestine.

At least 200 Palestinians have been killed, including 59 children and 35 women, in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since last week, according to Palestinian health officials. More than 1,305 people have also been injured and dozens of buildings destroyed or damaged.

Ten Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

“What we need right now is to redouble our efforts to deescalate the violence. They need to silence their weapons,” Arancha Gonzalez Laya told a press conference.

Once the violence subsides, she spoke of the need to “opening a dialogue” that seeks a solution to the decades-old problem.

With a cease-fire and negotiations, she hoped the region can “avoid the political entrenchment that causes violent outbreaks, such as the heartbreaking one we’ve been seeing over the last hours.”

She said the upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers will focus on finding ways to end the violence and opening new peace talks.

Last week, Gonzalez Laya condemned both Hamas’ rocket attacks and the forced evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem. “We need to protect the historic status of holy sites, this is also our collective obligation,” she said in reference to the Al-Aqsa mosque.