The EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday called for the continuation of exploratory talks between Israel and the Palestinians who are mulling their end.

On a three-hour visit to Gaza, she told reporters that the talks, which are taking place in the Jordanian capital of Amman, should continue and become "genuine negotiations."

"I believe that there should be serious peace negotiations in order to achieve the principle of the two-state solution," Ashton said, stressing that the EU supports the resumption of the peace negotiations.

Earlier on Wednesday, Palestinian sources said that the exploratory talks with Israel would be declared end after the sixth meeting in Amman finishes Wednesday.

In September of 2011, the Quartet, consisting of the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, suggested the exploratory talks to get peace negotiations back on track, which had been in a standstill since September 2010.

The exploratory discussions started on Jan. 23, mainly focusing on issues related to borders and security, as the Quartet believed that an agreement on these two aspects are the premise for a deal on other final-status issues.

Meanwhile, Ashton called on Israel to lift the blockade that it imposed on the Gaza Strip in 2007 to isolate Hamas, the Islamic movement that took over the territory that year. "We believe that the blockade on Gaza has to be lifted and allow people to freely move," she said.

In 2010, Israel eased the blockade, allowing more goods to enter, but Palestinians said some basic materials, especially those used in mass projects, are still banned.

"We want the economy in Gaza to grow and this really needs serious negotiations on the ground," Ashton said.

While in Gaza, Ashton signed an agreement to support the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) with 55 million euros (about 71.5 million U.S. dollars). The UNRWA provides educational and health services in addition to food and cash for nearly two-thirds of Gaza's population.

Ashton, on her third visit to Gaza, did not meet any officials from Hamas or its government in Gaza. The EU, like the United States, classifies Hamas as a terrorist organization for refusing to recognize Israel.