Egypt summons Israeli ambassador on Gaza crisis

Source: Xinhua | 01-12-2009 08:07

CAIRO, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian Foreign Ministry Sunday summoned Israeli ambassador in Cairo Shalom Cohen, calling on Israel to implement a UN Security Council resolution and respond to an Egyptian ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip.

It is urgent for Israel to abide by UN Security Council resolution 1860, which calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza "leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces," the state MENA news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki as saying.

He urged Israel to respond to the Egyptian proposal, which was presented by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday, which calls for an immediate ceasefire for a limited period to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and give Egypt time to continue its efforts to help reach a lasting truce.

Egypt would invite both Israel and the Palestinians for negotiation and help resume the inter-Palestinian reconciliation talks, according to the proposal.

The spokesman said he also told the Israeli diplomat that Israel "must honor the international commitments" of opening safe corridors for the delivery of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

The Israeli operation entered the 16th day on Sunday, killing more than 900 Palestinians. On the Israeli side, 13 people have been killed since the operation began on Dec. 27.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei