UN chief calls for Israeli ceasefire

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today urged Israel to declare a unilateral ceasefire in its war on Gaza.

Mr Ban, on a visit to Ramallah, the seat of the West Bank government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas’ rival said : “It’s time to think about a unilateral ceasefire from the Israeli government.”

An Israeli government spokesman dismissed the notion, saying it was not “logical” to expect a unilateral ceasefire “while Hamas would continue to target cities, trying to kill our people.”

Mr Ban is on a weeklong trip to the region meant to promote a truce.