UN Security Council calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
21-07-2014 12:28 PM
Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The UN Security Council on Monday dawn called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza .following the bloodiest day of the two-week conflict.
The emergency closed-door meeting was held at the request of Jordan, the only Arab member of the council, on behalf of the Arab Group to discuss the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip.
The Acting council president, Rwanda's U.N Ambassador Eugene-Richard Gasana, emerged to read elements of a more limited press statement that called for the need to improve the humanitarian situation in the region and welcome Egypt's efforts to broker a cease-fire.
The UN Security Council expressed "serious concern at the escalation of violence".It backed efforts by Egypt and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to broker a ceasefire deal, including the "withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces from the Gaza Strip".
After the meeting, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinians' UN representative, said he was disappointed that the council had not adopted a resolution to "stop the aggression against our people".
*Petra