UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Cairo Monday afternoon for talks with Egyptian officials on achieving a ceasefire in the war-stricken Gaza Strip, media reported.
Ban is currently on a regional tour that includes Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority for discussions on reaching a ceasefire in the restive enclave, Xinhua quoted state official MENA news agency as saying.
US Secretary of State John Kerry was also expected to arrive in Cairo later Monday over the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Kerry has been working to support Egypt's initiative to pursue a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants.
The Israeli offensive against Gaza, which started July 8, has left at least 540 Palestinians killed and 3,300 injured, according to Gaza health ministry spokesman.
The rockets of Gaza-ruling Hamas movement left a dozen of Israeli soldiers dead.
Egypt offered last week an initiative to achieve ceasefire in Gaza unconditionally.
The proposal was welcomed by all concerned parties excluding Hamas, which rejected the idea of ceasefire without a comprehensive solution.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app