UN urges immediate Gaza ceasefire

Jan 9 2009

The world was waiting for the military response to the British-led United Nations resolution calling for an "immediate and durable" ceasefire to the fighting in Gaza.

Fourteen out of 15 members of the security council backed the resolution to stop the conflict between Israel and Hamas forces. The United States abstained during the vote.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the UN had "served its purpose" after the vote, and urged the international community to "turns the words into changes on the ground".

As the vote was taking place, dozens more attacks occurred in Gaza with unconfirmed reports of a bomb flattening a five-storey apartment block in the northern part of the territory. Hamas officials said the attack killed seven people, including an infant.

The fighting has so far killed more than 750 Palestinians and at least 14 Israelis.

Mr Miliband said after the vote: "The UN has served its purpose of speaking loudly and clearly and authoritatively and unequivocally. But we all have further responsibility. Responsibility for the parties on the ground, responsibility for the regional states...responsibility for the whole international community because this crisis in the Middle East affects us all."

He added: "We are all very conscious that peace is made on the ground while resolutions are written in the United Nations. Our job here is to support the efforts for peace on the ground and to help turn the good words on paper into changes on the ground that are desperately needed."

The resolution was based on a British-drafted text supported by the US and France - all veto-wielding members of the security council - and amendments by key Arab negotiators including the foreign ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco and Qatar.

It also calls for a full Israeli withdrawal, unimpeded humanitarian access and intense diplomatic efforts for peace.

Israel's UN ambassador Gabriela Shalev said a ceasefire would only work if Hamas stopped rocket attacks. Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki said he feared Israel would delay implementation of the ceasefire for several days and "continue and expand its attack to new targets".