Ban Ki-moon voices regret over Israeli's ground offensive into Gaza

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his regret that Israel launched a ground offensive against Gaza, despite calls for restraint, and stressed that there can be no military solution to the conflict.

“I regret that despite my repeated urgings, and those of many regional and world leaders together, an already dangerous conflict has now escalated even further,” he stated during a photo-op at United Nations Headquarters with his newly appointed special envoys for Syria.

“In the past 24 hours, there have been a number of incidents involving the deaths of civilians, including the appalling killing of four boys on a beach in Gaza City,” he stated.

“I urge Israel to do far more to stop civilian casualties. There can be no military solution to this conflict. This applies as much to Israel-Palestine as it does to Syria.”