Ban blames Hamas for breaking ceasefire
Saturday, 2 August 2014
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon blamed Islamist organisation Hamas for violating the 72-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on Friday. The UN chief urged both Israel and Hamas sides to show maximum restraint and return to the agreed 3-day truce ‘that tragically lasted such a brief period of time’, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Ban urged ‘those with influence over the parties to do everything to convince them to observe the lull,’ he said. Ban also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of an Israeli soldier reportedly captured by Hams breaking the agreed truce after it started early morning Friday, according to AFP.