Ban Ki-moon condemns Israel and invites them to do more  to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza

Doha: July 20, 2014, newspaper opinion today

   the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon Called on  Israel to "exercise maximum restraint" to avoid civilian casualties during its military campaign in Gaza after Palestinian death toll exceeded 100 people dead Sunday.

Also condemned as "terrible act" carried out by Israel in the neighborhood Shojae'ya in the Gaza Strip where it launched an attack lasted a full hour early Sunday, killing more than 60 Palestinians and injured 250 others, at least.

     "While I was on my way to Doha, killed more civilians, including children, in Israeli military attacks on Shojae'ya. And I condemn this terrible act. "

   He stressed that Israel must "exercise maximum restraint and do more to protect civilians," he said, adding that it also said that "respect humanitarian law" in the military campaign being waged since July 8.

He added " A large number of innocent people dies .. and live in constant fear" in the tiny Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas.

Ban Ki-moon's tour includes as well as both Kuwait and Cairo, Jerusalem, Ramallah and Amman.

It is scheduled that Mr. Ban Ki-moon to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo Monday to discuss proposals for a truce in the bloody conflict in Gaza.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that the talks of Ban Ki-moon and Sisi will focus on the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the Egyptian initiative for a ceasefire, which was rejected by Hamas, despite the acceptance by Israel.