Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi [7] announced Nov. 17 that peace talks are progressing toward a ceasefire in the recent escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel. Mursi invited Qatar [8]'s Emir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani [9], Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan [10] and former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal [11] to Cairo for ceasefire discussions after the recent violence broke the informal truce brokered by Egypt [12] between Israel and Hamas in October. After rocket attacks by Palestinian militants into Israel this week, violence began to escalate on Nov. 14 with the killing of Hamas military chief Ahmed Jabari [13] in a targeted air strike [14] by the Israel Defense Forces. The next day Palestinian forces responded with rocket fire [15] aimed at multiple Israeli cities and towns. Thus far, 45 Palestinians and three Israelis [16] have been killed and hundreds more have been injured.
UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Navi Pillay [17] on Nov. 16 called for a ceasefire [18] by both sides involved in the conflict, expressing concern over both the Palestinian rocket fire that took place over the past week as well as the resulting aerial attacks by Israel. In June, the UN urged Israel to end its blockade [19] of the Gaza Strip, alleging violations of international law.
From Jurist [20], Nov. 17. Used with permission.
