Peace Talks Fail To Slow Gaza Fighting

United Nation’s Chief Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry had travelled to the Middle East to initiate talks to end the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas militants.

 

Ban Ki-moon left for Israel to deliver his message in person as the 15-day conflict showed no sign of easing, amid other talks planned in Cairo.

 

The two have called for an immediate end to hostilities and address the underlying causes of the conflict.

 

“My message to Israelis and Palestinians is the same: Stop fighting, start talking and take on the root causes of the conflict so that we are not in the same situation in the next six months or a year,” said Ban Ki-moon.

 

The call for a ceasefire comes after Prime Minister of the new unity government, Rami Hamdallah called for an end to the fight.

 

"We demand justice for our people, who everyday and since the beginning of the Israeli occupation have been subject to the occupation for 47 years," said Hamdallah

 

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas were to be held responsible for rejecting an Egyptian ceasefire proposal.

 

Hamas has vowed it will not agree to a ceasefire that does not allow for free movement of goods and people across its borders.

 

Israel authorities on its side maintain that their response was targetting Hamas’ network of tunnels, which have been used by militants to infiltrate Israel and carry out attacks.

 

The fight has already left more than 640 Palestinians and 31 Israelis dead with over 4000 injured, according to officials.

 

Source BBC

By Morgan Mueke

Tags:

Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine Gaza John Kerry Ban Ki moon United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv Peace Talks Fail To Slow Gaza Fighting Rami Hamdallah United Nation US Secretary of State John Kerry

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories