Ban Ki-moon says short truce can lead to longer one

17 July 2014, 4:03 pm

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A little less than an hour after a short humanitarian truce expires, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon releases a statement calling for the five-hour ceasefire to serve as the basis for a more permanent end to the fighting.

“The pause shows that a cessation of hostilities is possible if all the parties demonstrate the necessary will and put the interests of civilians, who have borne the brunt of this escalation, first,” reads a statement released by his spokesman. “Encouraged by discussions in Cairo, the Secretary-General hopes today’s humanitarian pause can lead to a more durable calm and expresses once again his support for international efforts, led by Egypt, to arrive at a sustainable ceasefire.”