- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

As Gaza Ceasefire Ends, UN Secretary General Condemns Rocket Fire, Urges Cairo Negotiation

Subscribe
With the 72-hour Gaza ceasefire over, the parties of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict should find a way back to the humanitarian ceasefire and continue negotiations in Cairo, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated.

MOSCOW, August 9 (RIA Novosti) - With the 72-hour Gaza ceasefire over, the parties of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict should find a way back to the humanitarian ceasefire and continue negotiations in Cairo, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated.

"The parties should swiftly find a way back to respect of the humanitarian ceasefire and to continue negotiations in Cairo to reach a durable ceasefire,” he said on Friday.

Ban condemned “the renewed rocket fire towards Israel” and said that “more suffering and death of civilians caught up in this conflict is intolerable.”

A draft Security Council resolution proposed by Jordan remains under negotiation in the UN Security Council.

Ban concluded that he “firmly calls on the parties not to resort to further military action that can only exacerbate the already appalling humanitarian situation in Gaza.”

On July 8, Israel launched a military operation in the Gaza Strip known as Operation Protective Edge aiming to combat Hamas and other rival Palestinian forces. The operation has so far involved air raids and a ground offensive.

The 72-hour ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which expired on Friday, was the longest lull in the fighting since violence broke out in the region. Hamas refused to extend the ceasefire after Egyptian-mediated talks in Cairo on a new border deal for the coastal strip ended in a deadlock. The Palestinians wanted Israel to agree to demands, including the lifting of the long-standing blockade of the Gaza Strip.

More than 1,800 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and 67 Israeli citizens have been killed in the conflict, according to the United Nations.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала