By IINA,
New York : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon delivered his strongest condemnation yet of the fighting between Israel and Hamas, saying both sides made use of weapons in an irresponsible manner. Ban’s remarks came at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York that once again called for a ceasefire as the conflict entered its sixth day with reports of continued military attacks overnight. The meeting had been requested by the Arab League at a meeting earlier Wednesday and the council’s only Arab member, Libya called for a binding resolution. But practically as the year came to an end, the council’s actions were hampered as the 15-member body will welcome five new members Thursday.
“The civilian population, the fabric of Gaza, the future of the peace process, stability in the region, and goodwill among people throughout the world: all are trapped between the irresponsibility displayed in the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas and the disproportionality of the continuing Israeli military operation,” Ban said. “Let me be clear: I condemn unequivocally and in the strongest possible terms the ongoing rocket and mortar attacks by Hamas and other Palestinians,” he said. “But I also condemn the excessive use of force by Israel. All parties must fully uphold international humanitarian law.” Ban deplored the fact that calls for a ceasefire issued by the Council Saturday at the start of the Israeli airstrikes against Hamas for firing rockets and mortars into southern Israel went unheeded. He repeated his own demand for an immediate ceasefire to be fully respected” by all parties. The parties must step back from the brink,” he said. All this violence must end.”
The Council convened on New Year’s Eve to hear addresses by representatives of the Arab League, who conveyed its decision in Cairo yesterday to ask the UN to demand that Israel and Hamas end the hostilities that had entered a fifth day. The Arab League said it plans to submit a draft resolution early next week to demand a ceasefire and the reopening of crossings into Gaza so humanitarian and medical supplies can reach those most in need of assistance, particularly hospitals that have treating hundreds of people injured by the fighting. The draft would call also for dialogue between the two sides in order to end the conflict.
In his address to the Council, Ban said the people of Gaza are living under heavy bombardment targeted at Hamas facilities, smuggling tunnels and Hamas infrastructure. The bombardment is also aimed at Palestinian government buildings, residential homes, mosques and businesses. “Over 300 people lie dead, among them at least 60 women and children,” Ban said. “Over 800 are wounded.” Ban said some humanitarian supplies have been allowed by Israel to reach Gaza, with a total of 84 truckloads passing through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday. The UN has been able to open seven emergency distribution centers, manned by a small staff. But he said other crossings remained closed and a fuel shortage has led to the closure of Gaza power plant. He called for the opening of the Nahal Oz and Karni crossings to allow more provisions of food and fuel into Gaza.
“There must be an immediate ceasefire that is fully respected by all parties,” he said. This must create new conditions on the ground that ensure at last that crossings into Gaza will be reopened; that rocket attacks and weapons smuggling will end; and that we will pursue political dialogue, and only political dialogue, to reunite Gaza with the West Bank; and that the root cause of this suffering, the absence of Israeli-Palestinian peace, is ended.