File photo: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
UN Chief Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate "humanitarian pause" in the fighting in Gaza and Israel lasting through the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
Ban's call came after several meetings with US Secretary of State John Kerry and Egyptian officials aimed at ending the 18-day conflict that has killed more than 845 people, most of them Palestinian civilians.
"On this, the last Friday of Ramadan, I call for an immediate, unconditional humanitarian pause in the fighting in Gaza and Israel. This pause would last through the Eid al-Fitr holiday period", the UN Chief said in a statement released by his office.