UN official urges end to blockade of Gaza

World Today

As negotiators in Cairo have not yet reached a long-term cease-fire agreement, the U.N. Middle East envoy says ending the Israeli blockade of Gaza is a major security need.

U.N. Middle East peace envoy Robert Serry stressed the importance of a continued cease-fire “to allow for increased humanitarian early recovery efforts.”

Serry said the five-day cease-fire has brought some reprieve, but the fact remains that more than 2,000 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced during the conflict.

Serry called this conflict the biggest crisis he has faced in his career. He urged for a sustainable solution addressing reconstruction and governance, as well as the return of a legitimate Palestinian Authority to Gaza.

Rebuilding is a priority, Serry said, as more than 16,000 homes have been destroyed.

CCTV America’s Liling Tan reports.

Follow Liling Tan on Twitter @LilingTan

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UN official urges end to blockade of Gaza

As negotiators in Cairo have not yet reached a long-term cease-fire agreement, the U.N. Middle East envoy says ending the Israeli blockade of Gaza is a major security need.