Kerry: We’re Still Working on an ‘Unconditional Humanitarian Cease-Fire’

“As you all know, I’ve just returned from the Middle East and from Paris, where I had a series of discussions aimed at de-escalating the conflict, ending the rocket and tunnel attacks against Israeli civilians, and easing the suffering of innocent people everywhere, in Gaza, in Israel, in the West bank.

Today, we are continuing to work toward establishing an unconditional humanitarian cease-fire, one that could honor Eid which begins now, and that would stop the fighting. Allow desperately needed food and medicines and other supplies into Gaza and enable Israel to address the threat -- which we fully understand and which is real -- the threat posed by tunnel attacks, and to be able to do so without having to resort to combat. That is what it could come from a cease-fire.

We believe the momentum generated by a humanitarian cease-fire is the best way to be able to begin to negotiate and find out if you can put in place a sustainable cease-fire, one that addresses all the concerns. The long-term concerns as well. Begin to talk about the underlying causes of the conflict in Gaza, although obviously not all will be resolved in the context of a sustainable cease-fire discussion. But it is important to try to build, to begin and to move in a process. And that's what we are trying to achieve. That is the only way.

Ultimately, this conflict is going to be resolved. Hopefully, if we can make some progress, the people in this region, who deserve peace, can take one step towards that elusive goal, by stopping the violence which catches innocents on all sides in the crossfire, and begin to try to build a sustainable way forward."