UN Security Council calls for Gaza-Israel cease-fire

15-member group urges restitution of the November 2012 truce; UN, Jordan jointly draft statement

A picture taken from the southern Israel-Gaza border shows a rocket being launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Friday, July 11, 2014. (photo credit: Menahem Kahana/AFP)
A picture taken from the southern Israel-Gaza border shows a rocket being launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Friday, July 11, 2014. (photo credit: Menahem Kahana/AFP)

The UN Security Council urged Israel and Hamas Saturday to end their hostilities in Gaza, calling on both sides to respect “international humanitarian laws” and stop the loss of life.

In a unanimous declaration, the 15-member council called for a de-escalation of the crisis that has claimed well over a hundred lives, and urged a return to the “calm and restitution of the November 2012 ceasefire.”

The council expressed “serious concern” over the “protection and welfare of civilians on both sides.”

It also called for a return to the negotiating table by Israelis and Palestinians “with the aim of achieving a comprehensive peace agreement based on the two-state solution.”

The resolution was drafted jointly by the United States and Jordan, Israel Radio reported.

The council issued its declaration amid news that eight more Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli raids in the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

Those attacks raised to 135 the number of Palestinians that medics said have been killed since hostilities flared.

Gaza officials said nearly 950 people have been wounded in the strikes.

Israel began Operation Protective Edge on Tuesday in an attempt to halt cross-border rocket fire by terrorist groups.

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