UN chief calls for end to Gaza violence

November 19, 2012 - The United Nations chief has called for an end to the violence between Israel and Hamas militants in and around the Gaza Strip. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said on Sunday he was flying to the region to "appeal personally" for both sides to reach a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Ban said he was deeply saddened by the reported deaths of more than ten members of the Dalu family, including women and children, and additional Palestinian civilians killed as a result of the ongoing violence in the Gaza strip. He was also alarmed by the continuing firing of rockets against Israeli towns, which has killed several Israeli civilians. This must stop, he said. “I strongly urge the parties to cooperate with all efforts led by Egypt to reach an immediate cease fire. Any further escalation will inevitably increase the suffering of the affected civilian populations and must be avoided,” Ban said.