Obama urges immediate ceasefire in Gaza

US President Barack Obama has pushed for immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip following the increasing number of civilian causalities.

Secretary of State John Kerry is going to meet Egyptian leaders in Cairo and press for immediate end of hostilities.

“The US and our international partners are deeply concerned about the risk of further escalation, and the loss of more innocent life,” State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters in White House.

“We believe there should be a ceasefire as soon as possible?? one that restores the cease-fire reached in November of 2012,” she said.

President Obama has earlier spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed the situation in Gaza.

In a statement the White House said, “The President discussed Israel’s ongoing military operation, reiterated the US’ condemnation of attacks by Hamas against Israel and reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself. The President also raised serious concern about the growing number of casualties, including increasing Palestinian civilian deaths in Gaza and the loss of Israeli soldiers.”

“Obama informed Netanyahu that Kerry will soon travel to Egypt to seek an immediate cessation of hostilities based on a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement,” it added.

“The President underscored that the United States will work closely with Israel and regional partners on implementing an immediate ceasefire, and stressed the need to protect civilians?in Gaza and in Israel,” statement further added.

Meanwhile in an interview with CBS news, Kerry said, “We support the Egyptian effort to have a ceasefire, which Israel joined into, which does not have preconditions, and then there is a promise of sitting down and dealing with those underlying issues that need to be dealt with,” he said.

“But Hamas is trying to insist that as a reward for their terrorist behavior, things be decided ahead of time, and we support Israel and the international community’s right not to be extorted by terrorism,” he added.

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