Kerry arrives in Cairo to try to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry launched a diplomatic initiative on Monday to broker a ceasefire in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas; "If we could get both sides to agree to an immediate and relatively unconditional truce, we would accept it right away," a senior U.S. official said on condition of anonymity.
CAIRO (Reuters) US Secretary of State John Kerry launched a diplomatic initiative on Monday to seek a ceasefire in the increasingly intense conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking to reporters as Kerry traveled to Cairo, senior U.S. officials highlighted the challenge of ending two weeks of violence during which more than 500 people died, mostly Palestinians.
"The goal is to achieve a ceasefire as quickly as possible... that doesn't mean it will be quick, nor does it mean it will be easy, but that's the objective," an official stated on condition of anonymity.
"We would also like it to be the most straightforward ceasefire possible. If we could get both sides to agree to an immediate truce, relatively free of conditions, we would accept it right away," the source added.
Kerry is scheduled to meet with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday evening and with a number of high-ranking Egyptian officials on Tuesday.
Among them will likely be Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri, as well as the leader of the Arab League, Nabil el-Araby, US officials said.
(Reporting by Arshad Mohammed)