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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - After the breakdown earlier this week of the latest temporary ceasefire in Gaza, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed the need for efforts to guide the parties towards a durable peace, making a round of phone calls to a number of key players in the Middle East and beyond concerning the situation.

According to Ban’s spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, the Secretary-General spoke to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas; the Foreign Minister of Egypt, Sameh Hassan Shokry Selim; the Secretary of State of the United States, John Kerry; the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani; and the President-elect of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

They discussed the crisis in Gaza, including the need for the parties to return to the ceasefire negotiations under Egyptian auspices.

Dujarric said the Secretary-General also spoke of the UN’s readiness to support any agreement the parties may reach, stressing the importance for the parties to establish a durable ceasefire with a view to the eventual resumption of meaningful negotiations on a two-State solution.

During the discussion, Ki-moon lamented the heavy loss of civilian life in Gaza and emphasized the UN commitment to assist Gaza in its recovery efforts once a ceasefire has been established, one that addresses the underlying causes of the cycle of violence so that a permanent calm can be reached between both sides.

The Secretary-General is expected to speak to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Dujarric added.

*Petra