U.N. Security Council calls for 'immediate and unconditional' Mideast cease-fire

NEW YORK, July 28 (UPI) -- Following an emergency midnight session, the United Nations Security Council issued a presidential statement early Monday calling for an "immediate and unconditional" cease-fire in order for humanitarian assistance to be delivered to Gaza.

Rwanda's Ambassador to the U.N. and current UNSC President Eugene Richard Gassan posted on Twitter that the 15-member Council:

-- "expresses grave concern regarding deterioration in situation as a result of crisis related to Gaza and loss of civilians and casualties;

-- "calls for full respect of international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilian population;

-- "reiterates the need to take appropriate steps to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians and their protection;

-- "expresses strong support for the call by international partners and U.N. secretary-general for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian cease-fire;

-- "civilian and humanitarian facilities, including of U.N., must be respected and protected an all parties to act consistently with this principle;

-- "calls on parties to engage in efforts to achieve a durable and fully respected cease-fire, based on the Egyptian initiative;

-- "urged all parties to accept and fully implement the humanitarian cease-fire into the Eid period and beyond."

The Security Council's statement follows U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's call on Sunday for all parties to extend a humanitarian cease-fire.

As of Saturday, 1,139 Palestinians and 45 Israelis have died in fighting that began July 19.