Ban Says Elements To End Gaza Violence In Place

Ban Says Elements To End Gaza Violence In Place; Voices ‘Outrage’ As UN Hit Again

New York, Jan 15 2009 10:10AM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today he believed the elements for an end to the violence in Gaza, which has claimed over 1,000 lives and is now in its 20th day, are in place, even as he expressed “outrage” over the latest shelling of United Nations premises in the Strip. “Today, the UN compound in Gaza has been shelled again,” Mr. Ban told a news conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. “I conveyed my strong protest and outrage to the Defense Minister and to the Foreign Minister, and demanded a full explanation.”

Mr. Ban, who arrived in Israel after talks in Egypt and Jordan as part of his diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and bring an end to the crisis which began on 27 December when Israel launched its military offensive with the stated aim of ending Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza, said he was told by top Israeli defence official Ehud Barak that such an incident will not happen again.

“Defence Minister Barak said to me that it was a grave mistake and that he took it very seriously,” Mr. Ban said. “He assured me that extra attention would be paid to the UN facilities and staff and that this should not be repeated.”

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General said he believed from his talks in Egypt that the elements are in place for the violence – which according to Palestinian health ministry officials has claimed over 1,000 lives and wound some 4,500, including large numbers of women and children – to end now. “The time has come for the violence to stop and for us to change fundamentally the dynamics in Gaza, and to pursue again the peace talks for a two-State solution, which is the only road to lasting security for Israel,” he stated. “We don’t have any more time to lose. We must end civilian suffering now,” Mr. Ban stressed, adding that the UN is working closely with the Israeli authorities to alleviate the crisis as much as possible.

He paid a special tribute to all the UN staff who are continuing to carry out their work amid the violence. “I am truly proud of the UN staff braving difficult and dangerous circumstances to help those in need.”

He also expressed his appreciation for the Israeli Government’s measures to establish a humanitarian operations centre and to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance.

The Secretary-General is also slated to meet with the leaders of the occupied Palestinian territory, Turkey, Lebanon and Syria during his mission to bring about a diplomatic solution to the current crisis.

ENDS

© Scoop Media