By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the loss of civilian lives in Gaza as well as the rocket attacks by Hamas against Israeli targets.
He described the deaths of a mother and four of her children in Monday’s raid as “tragic.”
“The mounting loss of civilian lives in and around Gaza is deeply worrying and the secretary-general calls for an immediate calming of the situation,” his spokesperson, Marie Okabe, told the daily press briefing Monday.
“The secretary-general calls upon Israel to exercise maximum care and restraint, and reminds the Israel Defence Forces of its responsibilities to protect civilians under international humanitarian law during its military operations,” she said.
The secretary-general, she stressed, also condemns the ongoing attacks and rockets fired Monday against Israeli targets by Hamas.
“He (Ban) calls on Hamas and other militant groups to cease such acts of terrorism. He also reminds them that civilian areas within Gaza should not be used as a base from which to launch its actions,” she added.