Arab League to meet on Gaza offensive

With the Israeli campaign in its seventh day, at least 172 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,230 wounded.

By (AFP)

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Mon 14 Jul 2014, 2:45 PM

Last updated: Sat 4 Apr 2015, 5:21 AM

Arab League foreign ministers will meet in Cairo later on Monday to discuss Israel’s deadly offensive against the Gaza Strip, aimed at countering militant rocket attacks.

With the Israeli campaign in its seventh day, at least 172 Palestinians have been killed and more than 1,230 wounded.

There have not been any Israeli fatalities.

The Arab League meeting comes amid intense international efforts to end the conflict, and with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas seeking UN intervention.

An Egyptian foreign ministry statement late on Sunday said Monday’s meeting, due to begin at 1900 GMT, “is aimed at finding a solution to stop the shedding of Palestinian civilians’ blood and to formulate a common Arab stance on the issue”.

So far, efforts to broker a ceasefire have been unsuccessful, with Cairo taking a hands-off approach.

Egypt had been key in mediating previous ceasefires, and brokered a truce between Israel and Hamas in November 2012.

However, ties between Cairo and Hamas have worsened since Egypt’s military ousted president Mohammed Mursi last July.

World leaders have been in contact with Egyptian officials, including President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, to discuss ways of ending the latest conflict.


More news from