U.N. Security Council discuss Gaza crisis

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Source: CCTV.com | 01-07-2009 14:39

Foreign ministers from U.N. Security Council members and Arab states are also ramping up pressure on Israel to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The diplomatic maneuvers come as the number of civilian deaths in the fighting in Gaza continues to rise.

United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on Gaza crisis at the UN headquarters in New York, the United  States, Jan. 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Hou Jun)

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner presided over Tuesday's special Security Council meeting on the Gaza crisis.

He said France was waiting for Israel's response to a ceasefire proposal announced by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Mubarak proposal calls for a limited initial truce to allow aid into Gaza. It received explicit backing from Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Also at Tuesday's meeting Rice said Israel would allow aid and relief workers into Gaza.