The European Parliament stopped short of calling for an unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, saying this should happen only if hostages held in the besieged Palestinian enclave were released and Hamas dismantled, Reuters reports.

Three groups of EU lawmakers — the socialists, centrists and greens — had sought a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire and the restart of efforts towards a political solution.

The resolution called for a permanent ceasefire and the restart of efforts for a political solution “provided that” hostages were released and Hamas dismantled.

The resolution as a whole was cleared by a wide majority.