BEIRUT (AFP) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Saturday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza saying that the level of violence in the Palestinian territory was unprecedented in recent history.

“Both sides must stop the fighting now,” the UN chief said as he addressed the Lebanese parliament during a brief visit as part of a tour of the region aimed at ending the war in Gaza.
“We cannot wait for all the details, the mechanisms, to be conclusively negotiated and agreed, while civilians continue to be traumatized, injured or killed. We demand an immediate ceasefire,” he said.
He urged Israel to end its offensive and withdraw its troops.
“The Israeli aerial and land offensives against Hamas targets are inflicting heavy civilian casualties, widespread destruction and tremendous suffering for the entire population,” he said.
“The level of violence in Gaza is unprecedented in recent decades.”
The Israeli offensive that began December 27 has killed nearly 1,200 Palestinians and left much of the enclave in ruins.
Ban told MPs that he was also concerned about two recent rocket attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon, saying such incidents could escalate the situation and jeopardize the UN resolution that ended Israel's devastating 2006 war with Hezbollah.
“I urge all parties in Lebanon and in Israel to continue to show restraint during this tense time in the region,” he said.
Shortly before he spoke, hundreds of youths gathered in a square near the parliament building and burned an effigy of Ban on which Israeli and American flags were plastered on the eyes.
The demonstrators also threw shoes at pictures of the UN chief, along with those of Israeli leaders and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit.
After his address to parliament, the UN chief headed to the south of the country to meet peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon where he said he was considering attending an international conference in Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday called for by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to help rebuild Gaza.
Ban earlier held separate talks with President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and parliament speaker Nabih Berri.