UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council issued an urgent appeal to Israel and Hamas early Monday for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 1,030 Palestinians and 43 Israeli soldiers were killed over the past weeks.
The appeal was made in a presidential statement adopted by the 15-nation UN body at an emergency meeting, the second late night session over the past weeks, which began at 0:04 am (0404 GMT) on Monday.
"The Security Council urged all parties to accept and fully implement the humanitarian ceasefire into the Eid period and beyond," the statement said.
"The Security Council also calls on parties to engage in efforts to achieve a durable and fully respected cesefire" in the region, it said.
Chinese naval vessels participate in RIMPAC drill
