CRI听力:Fire in Gaza Strip Continues amid International Push for Ceasefire

The number of casualties keeps climbing in the Gaza strip as the UN and the international community, including China, continue to push for a cease fire.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is now in Jerusalem to mediate the issue.

He is urging the two sides to stop fighting and return to talks to address root causes behind the violence.

"We have identified underlining issues that include an end to occupation and the daily humiliation and anger that comes with it. As I said yesterday, whatever the obstacles, Israelis and Palestinians share a common future. They need hope for a political progress and economic prosperity, a future of two states living side by side in peace and security. That is the vision of a two state solution."

But when meeting with Ban Ki-moon, Israeli President Shimon Peres says it is the country's obligation to protect itself and its civilians from attacks.

Peres describes the behaviour of Hamas militants as "criminal".

Chinese special envoy Wu Siku is in Cairo for talks with Arab League and Egyptian officials.

Wu says military force can not solve the conflict.

He says the resolution of the conflict should be found using peaceful dialogue.

"The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is also one of the core problems in the Middle East, should be resolved through peace talks. The sole way to solve the conflict is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, based on the 1967 border and with East Jerusalem as its capital. Then peace can be achieved between Palestine and Israel."

Earlier, a Hamas rocket hit near Israel's main airport, Ben Gurion International, outside Tel Aviv.

Several airlines from America and the Europe have since cancelled flights to that airport.

Israel has now opened an additional airport in the south for international flights.

For CRI, this is Cao Yuwei.