UN chief calls for just, comprehensive settlement to Arab-Israeli conflict

Before his Middle East tour, Ban enjoyed a strong support from the Security Council for his effort to strengthen the international campaign to bring an early ceasefire in Gaza as the Security Council resolution 1860 remained unheeded for more than a week by both Israelis and Hamas militants.

The just-concluded visit has taken the UN secretary-general to Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Lebanon and Syria. "Throughout this entire mission, I have been seeking to maximize coordination in the diplomatic efforts to end the crisis, and to make clear the expectations of the United Nations as embodied in resolution 1860," he said.

The Security Council resolution, strengthened later by a non-binding resolution adopted by the General Assembly (GA), calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire in Gaza. The GA resolution demands full respect for the council resolution.

"The fighting has ended with declaration of unilateral ceasefire, and, today, the withdrawal of Israeli troops," he said. "This is an important achievement, and offers a much-needed respite for suffering civilians, especially in the Gaza Strip."

"But conditions are still fragile, and much more remains to be done on both the humanitarian and diplomatic fronts," he said.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes arrived in Jerusalem on Wednesday to begin an assessment of the needs on the ground in the Gaza Strip following the three-week Israeli military offensive that came to a halt just a few days ago. Holmes will lead a humanitarian needs assessment team into Gaza on Thursday, together with the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Robert Serry.

During the visit to Gaza, "I also assured the people of Gaza that the United Nations will work urgently and diligently to provide urgent humanitarian assistance and to start a daunting and challenging process of recovery and reconstruction," Ban said.

"The challenges ahead are immense and numerous," he said. "While our immediate priority now may be humanitarian relief and early recovery, we must also continue our work to ensure sustainable arrangements underpinning a durable ceasefire, and our longer-term effort to achieve peace."

"As part of this effort, I have discussed the political way forward at length with regional and international leaders," he said. "It is clear to me that for any sustainable political progress to occur, and for Gaza to properly recover and rebuild, Palestinians must face the challenge of reconstruction."

"In both Gaza and Ramallah, I made a passionate appeal for Palestinians to overcome divisions and work to restore one Palestinian government within the framework of the legitimate Palestinian Authority under President (Mahmoud) Abbas," he said.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei