European leaders have welcomed a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel after 11 days of fighting that killed 232 Palestinians and 11 people in Israel – but many added that more still needs to be done to end the "cycles of violence."

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian responded shortly after the ceasefire took hold on Friday morning. "I welcome the ceasefire, which puts an end to a cycle of violence with a heavy civilian toll… [but the violence] underscored the need for a relaunch of a genuine political process between the parties," he said. 

He added that without further talks, the "cycles of violence will be repeated."

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Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas also responded along the same lines, tweeting early on Friday morning it was "good that there is now a ceasefire … now we have to deal with the causes, rebuild trust and find a solution to the Middle East conflict."

In a statement, the 27-nation European Union, said: "The European Union welcomes the announced ceasefire, bringing to an end the violence in and around Gaza.

"We are appalled and regret the loss of life over these past 11 days. As the EU has consistently reiterated, the situation in the Gaza Strip has long been unsustainable."

It added: "Only a political solution will bring sustainable peace and end once and for all the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."

The UK's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also tweeted a similar statement: "All sides must work to make the ceasefire durable and end the unacceptable cycle of violence and loss of civilian life." 

The ceasefire looked to be holding on Friday but there were fresh clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said "riots broke out" at the Al-Aqsa esplanade, which is Islam's third holiest site and also revered by Jews, who call it the Temple Mount.

"Hundreds of people threw rocks and petrol bombs at police officers who responded at the scene and began dispersing the rioters," Rosenfeld said in a statement.

Days of unrest at Al-Aqsa during Islam's holy month of Ramadan preceded the recent violence.

Over the past 11 days, Hamas and other groups in Palestine fired more than 4,300 rockets towards Israel – but the majority of them were shot down by the country's Iron Dome air defenses.

Israel, meanwhile, has fired missiles into Gaza, where an estimated 120,000 people have been displaced, another 1,900 people have been injured, and 232 people have died, including 65 children.

Another 12 people have died in Israel and 335 people have been injured.