(VOVworld) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon arrived in Cairo on Monday to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, hoping to end the 2 weeks of escalating conflict that has killed more than 570 people.

Ban Ki-moon arrives in Egypt to push for a ceasefire in Gaza

Speaking earlier at a joint press conference with Ban, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that his government would not alter the ceasefire proposal. He said the major objectives of the ceasefire were to protect the Palestinian people and help resolve conflicts between Israel and Hamas.

Ban requested Israel and Hamas to unconditionally halt the violence and resume peace talks.  Ban said the UN would push for peace talks and an end to the violence to allow space for humanitarian aid in Gaza and the lifting of the blockade imposed upon Gaza.

Continuing his Middle East trip, Ban is later expected to travel to Israel, Palestine and Jordan.