Paris - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni repeated her government's rejection of a ceasefire with militants in the Gaza Strip during meetings with French officials in Paris on Thursday.

Livni's visit to France was overshadowed from the start by an Israeli rejection of a call by the European Union for a 48-hour truce in the hostilities. Israel argued that it is the victim of terrorist attacks.

Also during the visit to France, Livni told French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner that there was no need for a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons as there is no humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

After meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Livni told reporters that Israel is bringing about change in the Gaza Strip by attacking militants and providing support to centrists.

She added that Sarkozy understood the situation.

Sarkozy is to travel to the Mideast region starting next Monday to continue his mediation efforts, with visits to Cairo, Ramallah and Jerusalem, Elysee Palace said.

The French president had already been scheduled to visit French forces in southern Lebanon, and now is to expand the itinerary to try to help mediate in the Gaza crisis, officials noted.

Besides Sarkozy, a top-ranking EU delegation led by chief diplomat Javier Solana is expected to travel to the region. (dpa)