U.N. Joins in the Calls for a Gaza Ceasefire

The Security Council held an emergency midnight meeting to discuss the situation.

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency midnight meeting to address the ongoing fighting in Gaza, and called on both sides to agree to an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire. Although the statement does not rise to the level of a formal resolution, it does add to growing chorus of international pleas for peace — including President Obama, who told the same thing to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

Neither side was ultimately happy with the result of the meeting. The Palestinian ambassador to the U.N. called for a full resolution ordering Israel to withdraw its troops, but that never came to vote. The Israeli counterpart complained that the statement did not mention Hamas or reassert Israel's right to defend itself. The non-binding statement was agreed to by all 15 members of the Security Council.

Monday marked the start of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday marking the end of the month of Ramadan. As a result, shelling, both to and from Gaza, has reportedly been lighter than usual, though rocket attacks are continuing on both sides. The current death toll stands 1,035 on the Palestinian side, with 43 Israeli soldiers killed in the fighting.