UN Security Council concerned by growing Gaza conflict casualties
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is in the Middle East in a bid to help broker a ceasefire, condemned killings in Shejaia as an "atrocious action."
By REUTERSUnited Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon(photo credit: REUTERS)
The UN Security Council expressed concern at the escalation of violence in the Gaza conflict after meeting on Sunday to discuss almost two weeks of fighting between Israel and the Islamist Hamas group that has cost more than 400 lives."The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern about the growing number of casualties. The members of the Security Council called for an immediate cessation of hostilities," Rwandan UN Ambassador Eugene Gasana told reporters after an emergency meeting of the 15-member council.Jordan had requested the meeting after more than 60 Palestinians and 13 Israeli soldiers were killed as Israel shelled Gaza's Shejaia neighborhood and battled militants in the bloodiest fighting in the 13-day offensive."The members of the Security Council called for respect of international humanitarian law including protection of civilians," Gasana said. "The members of the Security Council emphasized the need to improve the humanitarian situation, including through humanitarian pauses."UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is in the Middle East in a bid to help broker a ceasefire, condemned the killings in Shejaia as an "atrocious action" and called for an immediate end to the fighting.Ban was in Qatar on Sunday and is due to visit Cairo, Jerusalem and Ramallah in the West Bank.
