(VOVworld) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday discussed the crisis in Gaza with several Middle East leaders, calling for a durable ceasefire.
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| UN stresses importance of durable ceasefire in Gaza. (Photo: eprahaar.in) |
In a round of phone calls, Ban spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Hassan Shokry Selim and US Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as leaders of Qatar and Turkey. Ban underlined the need for the parties to return to the ceasefire negotiations under Egyptian auspices. Ban also offered the UN support to any agreement the parties may reach and urged a durable ceasefire. Ban is expected to speak to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu.
More than 2,090 Palestinians have been killed, of which 70 percent are civilians, since Israel started its offensive on July 8th. A total of 64 Israeli soldiers and 4 civilians were also killed in the conflicts.