Ban condemns rockets, urges ‘maximum restraint’ from Israel

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon has just been speaking at a press conference with Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. He began by condemning rocket fire from Gaza and the use of schools, hospitals and mosques for military purposes. Ban was moved by the murder of three Israeli boys and the killing of Mohammed Abu Khdeir, he said. He said the two sides should stop fighting and start talking, urging Israel to exercise "maximum restraint". There is no viable alternative to the two-state peace process, he said, despite people being disillusioned with it.