By NNN-PTI,
New York : Amid reports that Israel is preparing for a possible ground attack on Gaza, United Nations appealed to both sides to halt the fighting and asked Tel Aviv to allow humanitarian supplies into poverty-stricken Palestinian territory.
In a statement yesterday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on both Israel and Palestine to heed the call of the Security Council to end hostilities and urged Tel Aviv to open border crossing to enable humanitarian supplies to flow into Gaza.
Deploring that violence is continuing despite call by the UNSC, Ban said he is saddened by Palestinian casualties including 8 trainees with the UN responsible for humanitarian activities in Gaza.
“The Secretary-General joins the Security Council’s call for an immediate stop to all violence and all military activities,” his spokesperson said in the statement.
The UN, Ban said, has repeatedly brought to the attention of Israel shortages of humanitarian supplies in Gaza in recent weeks.
The Humanitarian Coordinator in the occupied Palestinian territory met with Israeli officials yesterday and received a guarantee that all required humanitarian supplies and personnel would be allowed entry into Gaza.
The Secretary-General fully expects this cooperation to continue on a rolling basis in the coming days, his spokesperson said.