Ban calls on Israel, Palestinians to help truce efforts

UN: UN leader Ban Ki-moon called on Israel and Hamas to work with Egypt to reach a ceasefire in their mounting conflict. Ban said in a statement he was heading for the region to support ceasefire efforts but his office did not say whether he had left or what his itinerary would be. The UN Secretary General said he was “deeply saddened” by reports that up to 10 members of one Palestinian family had died in one Israeli air strike on Gaza and “alarmed” by the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel.

“This must stop. I strongly urge the parties to cooperate with all efforts led by Egypt to reach an immediate ceasefire. Any further escalation will inevitably increase the suffering of the affected civilian populations and must be avoided,” Ban said.

“I am heading to the region to appeal personally for ending the violence and contribute to ongoing efforts to that end,” Ban said.

While the United Nations has not given Ban's itinerary, Israeli media has said that he will go to Jerusalem while Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said Ban would also go to the Palestinian territories.

Since the latest Israeli air strikes started on Wednesday, at least 69 Palestinians have been killed and more than 600 injured. Three Israelis have been killed and more than 50 injured by rocket fire from Gaza.

Israeli air strike levels Hamas police building

GAZA CITY: An Israeli air strike in the early hours of Monday morning leveled the Abbas police headquarters in Gaza City, an AFP correspondent said.

The strike, which hit just after 2:00 am (0000 GMT), completely destroyed the building, the second biggest police facility in Gaza City.

Shockwaves from the blast shattered glass in neighbouring homes, where several people were reported lightly wounded, and shook buildings through the Rimal neighbourhood of the city.

Earlier this week, an Israeli air strike hit the Arafat Police headquarters, the primary Hamas police facility for the city. The strike came as Israel pressed its campaign against the Gaza Strip for a sixth day, opening fire at the Gaza shore from ships and carrying out air strikes that killed at least one shortly after midnight.

Egypt activists on Gaza 'solidarity' trip

EGYPT: Around 400 Egyptian activists headed to the Gaza Strip on Sunday to show solidarity with its people as Israeli air strikes pounded the Palestinian enclave for a fifth day, organisers said.

A five-bus convoy transporting members of several Egyptian parties and political movements arrived at the country's Rafah border crossing with Gaza, officials said.

“The trip is aimed at showing our support for the people of the Gaza Strip in the face of the Israeli aggression,” said organiser Mahmud Ali of Egypt's liberal Dustoor Party.

The activists were “carrying a message of support from the people of Egypt,” he added.

They were also bringing medicine and emergency medical supplies.

AFP