Itongadol.- The United Nations Security Council unanimously called late Sunday night for "an immediate and unconditional humanitarian cease-fire" in the fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Yet after a night without rockets, Code Red sirens blared in Ashkelon around 7 am; Iron Dome intercepted the rocket fired at the city.
The Security Council statement, drafted by Jordan, "urged all parties to accept and fully implement the humanitarian ceasefire into the Eid period and beyond" and "calls on parties to engage in efforts to achieve a durable and fully respected ceasefire, based on the Egyptian initiative."
Earlier Sunday night, US President Barack Obama spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone, also demanding an immediate and unconditional humanitarian ceasefire that would later lead to a permanent end to hostilities in Gaza based on the 2012 ceasefire agreement reached at the end of Operation Pillar of Defense.
Obama also reiterated American support for the Egyptian ceasefire initiative.
The US president once again condemned Hamas\’ rocket fire, and reaffirmed Israel\’s right to defend itself, while at the same time expressing Washington\’s growing concern of the rising number of Palestinian and Israeli casualties and the worsening humanitarian condition in Gaza.
The President underscored the enduring importance of ensuring Israel’s security, protecting civilians, alleviating Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, and enacting a sustainable ceasefire that both allows Palestinians in Gaza to lead normal lives and addresses Gaza’s long-term development and economic needs, while strengthening the Palestinian Authority," a White House statement said.
"The President stressed the US view that, ultimately, any lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must ensure the disarmament of terrorist groups and the demilitarization of Gaza," it went on to say.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas left for Saudi Arabia on Sunday night to meet with King Abdullah and the rest of the Saudi leadership, which expressed sweeping support of the original Egyptian offer.
Abbas is trying to form an Arab alliance that bypasses Hamas, Qatar and Turkey, and includes Saudi, Egypt and the PA.