A convoy carrying Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of theUnited Nations was pelted with shoes and sticks by Palestinian protesters when it entered the Gaza Strip from Israel on Thursday, condemning Israel's blockade and Ban's refusal to meet the families of Palestinian prisoners. said.
About 100 men and women who said their family members were being held in Israeli prisons had arrived in buses near a checkpoint in Gaza, a few hundred yards from the Erez crossing, blocking traffic and complaining that Mr. Ban, on his third visit to Gaza, had no plans to meet with them.They toted pictures of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and placards reading "Ban Ki-moon enough bias for Israel."
No one was injured during the hostile welcome and the vehicles, which crossed into the Hamas-ruled territory from southern Israel, pushed through the crowd and sped away.
At a news conference later, Mr. Ban called for maintaining a cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups here, though the cease-fire is a fragile one. He also called on Israel to open commercial crossing points with Gaza for more export and import. The cease-fire, the opening of crossings and the ending of the Palestinian factional split are all essential “for the continued progress for the people of Gaza,” he said.
About 5,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli jails and securing their release is a highly emotive issue in Palestinian society.
Around 40 percent of Palestinian men living in the occupied territories have been detained by Israel at some point in their lives.
Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip in 2007, updating a previous policy of closure on the coastal enclave.
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| Shoes thrown at UN Chief Ban Ki-moon |
About 100 men and women who said their family members were being held in Israeli prisons had arrived in buses near a checkpoint in Gaza, a few hundred yards from the Erez crossing, blocking traffic and complaining that Mr. Ban, on his third visit to Gaza, had no plans to meet with them.They toted pictures of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel and placards reading "Ban Ki-moon enough bias for Israel."
No one was injured during the hostile welcome and the vehicles, which crossed into the Hamas-ruled territory from southern Israel, pushed through the crowd and sped away.
At a news conference later, Mr. Ban called for maintaining a cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups here, though the cease-fire is a fragile one. He also called on Israel to open commercial crossing points with Gaza for more export and import. The cease-fire, the opening of crossings and the ending of the Palestinian factional split are all essential “for the continued progress for the people of Gaza,” he said.
About 5,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli jails and securing their release is a highly emotive issue in Palestinian society.
Around 40 percent of Palestinian men living in the occupied territories have been detained by Israel at some point in their lives.
Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip in 2007, updating a previous policy of closure on the coastal enclave.
