UPDATED ON:
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
02:28 Mecca time, 23:28 GMT
News Middle East
Ban demands probe into Gaza attacks

Ban said he was 'appalled' after witnessing the aftermath of the attack on the UN complex [EPA]

Ban Ki-moon, the secretary-general of the United Nations, has demanded a "full investigation" into Israel's bombing of a UN compound in Gaza City.

Speaking during an official visit to the devastated territory on Tuesday, he condemned the attack on the UN complex as "outrageous" and "totally unacceptable".

"It is particularly significant for a secretary-general of the UN to stand in front of this bomb site of the UN compound," he said.

"I am just appalled and not able to describe how I am feeling having seen this ... it's an outrageous and totally unacceptable attack against the UN. I have protested many times, and I protest again in the strongest terms."

Ban called for a "full investigation" into the incident to make those responsible for the attack "accountable".

He also announced he was sending a high-level delegation to oversee humanitarian support for Gazans and assist with the rebuilding effort following Israel's three-week offensive.

Ban is the highest-ranking official to visit Gaza since Israel and Hamas declared separate, unilateral ceasefires on Sunday.

'Shocking' devastation

Ban stressed "the UN and the international community will support and help you [Gazans] to overcome" the devastation, which he described as "shocking and alarming".

While Ban reiterated his condemnation of Israel's "excessive use of force", he was careful to underline that he believes rocket attacks on Israel by Gazan fighters are also "unacceptable".

In video
Unearthing Gaza's destruction 
Israel's scorched earth tactics

Israel had said the aim of its operations in Gaza was to cripple Hamas's ability to launch rockets into the south of the country.

Ban urged Palestinians factions to unite to allow the international community, including the UN, to help broker a lasting peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. 

However, while offering to do "all [he] can as secretary-general of the UN to help in this time of need", Ban is not expected to meet Hamas officials during this visit.

Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza, said because much of the international community, including the US and the European Union, regard Hamas as a "terrorist organisation", it would be political difficult for the UN chief to hold direct talks with Hamas officials.

Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006 which were internationally recognised as being both fair and free.

Rebuilding Gaza's devastated infrastructure is expected to cost billions of US dollars.

Without supplies

John Holmes, the UN humanitarian chief, says hundreds of millions of dollars in emergency aid supplies will be needed for the people of Gaza.

Although water supplies were restored to many Gazan homes as of Sunday, 400,000 were still without running water, Holmes said.

GAZA TOLL


At least 1,300 people killed, including more than 400 children and more than 100 women

At least 5,300 Palestinians injured, including nearly 1,900 children and 800 women 

At least 100,000 people forced from their homes

At least 13 Israelis killed, including three civilians

Electricity in Gaza is available for less than half the day and around 100,000 people have been left homeless by the war.

Scores of bodies have been discovered in the rubble of destroyed buildings since both sides declared unilateral ceasefires on Sunday.

Palestinians returning to their neighbourhoods have begun to unearth the true scale of destruction.

Mohyeldin reported that the World Health Organisation had issued a warning of an outbreak of disease as weeks-old bodies remain unburied and sewage continues to flow in many areas because of the destruction of Gaza's infrastructure.

The deposed Hamas-led government in Gaza estimates that more than 5,000 buildings were completely destroyed and another 20,000 damaged or partially destroyed in the fighting.

Despite the three-week Israeli onslaught that killed more than 1,300 Palestinians and destroyed thousands of buildings, Hamas and other Palestinian factions have claimed victory in the fighting.

Following his visit to Gaza, the UN chief also visited the southern Israeli town of Sderot - one of the main targets for Palestinian rocket-launching squads based in Gaza.

Ban said he was "totally committed to Israel securing its rightful place as a nation within secure and recognised borders" and called for the current ceasefires to be turned into a durable truce "respected fully by all parties concerned". 

 Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
 
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Feedback Number of comments : 38
 
Ben
Australia
21/01/2009
Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006 which were internationally recognised as being both fair and free?!
You are so one sided that is' twisted! Hamas was being recognised as FAIR? by whom exactly? a movement that pushed their own people (the Fatah) out of windows, is being completely corrupt and constatnly sends rockets aiming at civilians in the Israeli side?! You keep portraying them as victims, as weak and innocent. When will you start to show THEIR responsibility to all this? you need two to tango. Enough blaming Israel for everything. It's not going to get you anywhere!

Wayne Lewis
Canada
21/01/2009
Ban demands probe into Gaza attacks
Ban Ki-moon must declare Israel a Terrorist State .. and why not.. most of the world is of this opinion.

ys
United Kingdom
21/01/2009
funny
I thought the UN was the organization that started this whole thing in the first place

rain
United States
21/01/2009
gaza
ys. Excellent point! Also, saying that Hamas is anything other than another terrorist organization seeking power through brainwashing people in poverty is a misrepresentation of the truth. They are ANYTHING but fair and balanced. They are unbalanced psycho paths. They do not care about the people of Gaza! They WANTED this bloodbath to help THEIR cause of keeping strife in the Middle East! If it were just Palestine and Israel, there would be peace by now, but Hamas will make it doesn't happen.

Tambosan
Malaysia
21/01/2009
In the name of Humanitarian
We all condemned the war on Gaza, most blame Israeli, some support them. Yes, i do condemned the Israeli because targeting civilians not the Hamas. But in all wars, there must be civilians killed. No doubt about that. The whole world are watching, but just kept quiet. Including all the Arabs neighbour. If everyone really concern on Gaza civilians, it should be done earlier. Less talk, more action!!!

Demand Justice
United States
21/01/2009
???
Carter and co. monitored the elections. The problem is not the free and fair elections thru which Hamas came to power the problem is the so-called free and fair democratic Western world that refused to accept Hamas as legitimate!!! All this is about getting the Palestinians to accept Fatah and the Abu Mazen clan as legitimate even tho they lost those elections! Its OK for democratic countries to be undemocratic. No problem there...right?

Dr M A Surgeon
Afghanistan
21/01/2009
the time has come
the time has come where the global conscios get responsible and say to 'Isreal' enough is enough after 60 years of irrespect to the international community anf stupid, unethical support by US. Big hope on Mr Obama to react. the man was very sharp not to talk about ME in day 1, at least he did not show the US blind support to that illegal stat

waseem
United Arab Emirates
21/01/2009
Am sorry bcoz Hamas never get the chance to run it s responsibilities as any legimate gov, starting US when they refuse to deal with palastinian people democratic choise, Offender BUSH claim the election wasn't Fair, Fatah acknowledge it's Fair .. (what a contrary). How you would feel Mr.Ben if you live in a 96Km Squar strip with fully siege even on basics like food, medicine..etc. think abt u family under siege of hunger .. wht option's to go through?!

abdul Shuckoor
Sri Lanka
21/01/2009
Ban demands probe into Gaza attacks
Wonder if the probe is going to bring back the 1300 already dead , what a show down and waste of time - isnt it time they shut the de-funked UN down. a full investigation of what- this is mockery of the first order.

Chi
Japan
21/01/2009
I agree with ys
I also thought UN is the one started this,,, People forgot it or they even don't know about it????? so now they ask UN for help???

Natasha
United States
21/01/2009
Feedback to Ben from Australia
Of course Hamas is innocent in compare to the Axis of evils: American and Israeli governments who want to conquer the whole world. If Israel does not want resistance groups such as Hamas, then it should end the occupation and stop killing Palestinians and oppressing them. You get what you ask for. If you treat Palestinians equally, then you will receive a better treatment from them.

miguel Lupianez
United States
21/01/2009
Ban In Gaza Isreal War Crimes
Lots of talk as uasual but most likely no action.As I read the the news it seems the Arabs have all ready forgoton what isreal did interms of attacking inocent civilians/infrastucture.Two incidents where civilians were ordered by Hitler type Isrealis to go into there home for saferty and then bombing the hell out of them haven't been mentioned no more.Why?this is a real crimes against inocent civilian.Because Arabs are now cowards that can't even protest these kinds of crimes continually

SJ
United Kingdom
21/01/2009
What a joke !
Ban is a puppet of Israel just as Bush was and Obama will be. Imagine Israel bombed the UN buildings whilst he was in Israel and all he does is condemn (with empty words). What a joke - this entire world has become. But if a muslim country or organisation in defense of their land and people (from foreing invaders like the USA in Afganistaan) attack (in defence), they become terrorist. Soon, my friends, the tides will turn and justice will prevail as oppression never last forever.

Benjamin Alejandro
Mexico
21/01/2009
It doesnt seems biased to me...
It never says Hamas is "fair", in fact the article never says anything about Hamas or it's government. It says that the elections Hamas won were "internationally recognised as being both fair and free." Nor does blame anything on Israel. It simply state the facts. If you need a constant reiteration about Hamas rocket atack every two sentences, go watch Fox News.

J.A
Sweden
21/01/2009
To Ben
Hamas was elected to represent the palestinean people in 2006. The elections was supervised by international observers to ensure a fair and free election. Israel and USA could if they wanted have rejected HAMAS in the elections but they did not. That prooves the double standard in this situation. The reason for HAMAS to exist at all is/was in the hands of Israel. Israel wants Hamas to be there so that Israel can continue to occupy kill rape and steal land.

Crusader
Bangladesh
21/01/2009
Terrorism
Terrorist israel should be prosecuted and held responsible for this war crime. They came from foreign countries, occupied Palestinians and killed innocent babies, children and women. Can you imagine if the case were vice versa then how the hypocrates in US, Australia and west would react? UN and ICC should hold terrorist israel, its militrary and political leaders responsible for such war crimes against humanit and place deterrence.

Joao
Brazil
21/01/2009
Ben: the author of the article said that the 2006 parliamentary elections were fair and free - not the Hamas. Read it carefully. Hamas got the highest number of vote and that's it. Whether Hamas itself is fair, unfair, terrorist or freedom fighters, is something else... And "ys": get some history classes pal. If you think this whole mess started in 1947 I suggest you start reading more.

ABu Mohammed
Ethiopia
21/01/2009
"Sky never be plough and King never be Accused"
thier is one saying in my contry "Sky never be plough and King never be Accused" Yes, who is to accuse Israel, King of the world!!! No one, UN is just kiding over there

Mohamad
United States
21/01/2009
ben from australia
Ban your the twisted onw here. It seems like you haven't had looked numbers lately during this conflict over one thousand people in the gaza area have been killed nearly half are women and children not including the innocent men killed while on the other side thirteen israeli soilders were killed and only three civilians.. Now you tell me which side is more fair??

AS
Netherlands
21/01/2009
To Ben
Ben: "Hamas was being recognised as FAIR? by whom exactly?" By the Palestinians. They had held the democratic election that you (and all the Western people) hail as the holy pillar of society. And then what? You (and all the Western people) denied Hamas win because simply you (and all the Western people) do not like Hamas. Do you (and all the Western people) decide who is being recognised as the winning party in Palestine? Is that what your democracy is? And yes. You twisted yourself.

Matt
Papua New Guinea
21/01/2009
Hamas is a Terrorist!
I among of you here believes that Hamas is not a Terrorist Organinzation??? Don't be one-sided in bringing reports. Everyone knows what is the purpose of the existence of Hamas. The changing the mind of young children by putting hatred among thier neighbors, teaching them to kill at a very age is against international law in protecting the childrens rigth.

Ruwayda Mustafah
United Kingdom
21/01/2009
No one denies that the Hamas rockets are futile but what you are neglecting is the reasoning behind it. Israel broke the ceasefire on November 2nd and it under the truce the blockade was to be removed. This was not done. The rockets have a “justification” it’s a cry for the world to see. But even that does not justify targeting civilians, I fully agree but at the same time Israel is not justified in disproportionate attacks, using phosphorous and breaking international laws, illegal settlements

Don Quixot
Afghanistan
21/01/2009
Sorry, YS, yes it is funny, because it seems it is rather the UK governement who really started it all in the first place, and then passed it over to the UN

shujaa mganga
United States
21/01/2009
Ban demands probe
while Mr. Ban is to be respected for not being afraid to speak out against the invaders of Palestine, he finds himself in a dilemma. he recognizes the legitimacy of the Hamas government (the Palestinians voted them in) but because the u.s. wont respect the wishes of the Palestinians, he'll be unable to address the problems...america does not respect and/or recognize any nation/government who refuses to allow itself to be controlled by americans.

kaddie
United States
21/01/2009
Hamas Elections
Yes, Hamas did WIN fair and free elections that were monitored by several international organizations and countries including envoys from the U.S. The fact that SOME don't know that is a very disturbing and revealing fact about how terrible the press is in their countries. Hamas won the elections with over 70% of the vote and the election results have NEVER been contested even by the U.S.

Justice in Palestine
Ireland
21/01/2009
Israel a failed experiment
Both Israel and Hamas have committed terrorism. Israel has shown gross disrespect for international and humanitarian law. Israel has lost its legitimacy. Israel & Palestine should temporarily be re-formed into a restored UK colony of Palestine. After new government institutions are formed, reconstruction is carried out, refugees are allowed to return, settlement has been made for seized land, and nuclear weapons are eliminated, one or two new secular states should be formed.

ss
United States
21/01/2009
two to tango
Ben said "u need two to tango", I agree with him but those "two" were Israel and USA.

ZION
Israel
21/01/2009
Whos the Boss
Ban can talk and condemn and visit and condemn again. UN can make resolution after resolution....the fact is ISRAEL is the boss. We do what we do and no one can stop us. MIGHT IS RIGHT

Chris
Sweden
21/01/2009
To: Ben
You asked ys: "You are so one sided that is' twisted! Hamas was being recognized as FAIR? by whom exactly?" Here is your answer: The international election observers under the lead of former US president Jimmy Carter said so. For the record: Hamas is a democratic and by international law rightful resistance movement. Only a hateful warmongling zionist or a very ignorant person can fail do realize that fact.

Roberto
Mexico
21/01/2009
To Ben in Australia
Sorry, but I need to say this: at least one medium is saying what Gazans need to say... for the other things you have your Western main media. Thanks Al-Jazeera for showing us the other side of the coin, the side that is always hide from any war: the defeated side.

mike
Belgium
21/01/2009
UN Chief visited Gaza
Atleast no less than the UN Chief witness how cruel the Israelis are..the extent of damage they brought to the palestinian people. Indeed, those responsible should be rought to justice

Paulo Almeida
Portugal
21/01/2009
Gaza holocaust
In spite of having lived for months in 1967 in a seven meters boat at large of southern France, proudly under israelian flag, in spite of thinking that Israel should and could exist, I see that the original dream turned out to irresponsibility, transforming Israel in a colony sustained economically and militarly by the U.S.A., objectively aiming to pursue its own policy, people emigrating to Israel just for economic reasons, and unavoidaibly leading to the loss of legitimacy to Israel existence

A Khalifa
Austria
21/01/2009
Ban demands probe into Gaza attacks
Ban, get your history right. Hamas won the parliamentary elections in 2006 with a majority of seats, noone can dispute that. If you are so keen to spread the language of democracy then you should respect the Palestinian people's choice for choosing Hamas as the representative withing the Gaza Strip. Obviously, this was against US and Isreaeli interests and so they used the puppet Fatah to infiltrate and divide. This failed, so sanctions and a siege was imposed on Gaza. Fair? I doubt it.

alexander dennis
Canada
21/01/2009
A genocide
Shame! this slaughter of large civilian population showed us how split Arab countries are. Anglo-saxon media created nice word for this slaughter, "Gaza Crisis". A misleading word. A word not to offend those who own the World. Shame!

Shaikh Naeem
India
21/01/2009
what was isrealy Goal in Gaza
As israely pm olmert said that they have acchived their Goal in Gaza, while announcing ceasefire. I would like to aske to isreal and its people and also to the world, that what was israely goal in gaza, is that to kill inocent people, more then four hundred children and women. if this was the the israely goal, wait GOD's punishment...

abuayyub
United Kingdom
21/01/2009
Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006 which were internationally recognised as being both fair and free?! Please try to remember that the unfair and unwarranted international pressure plased on hamas after the election, and the insistence of the Israeli government that Hamas recognise them as a 'illegitimate state', has cause the friction between Hamas and Fatah. Had they not been excommunicated by the international community, things surely would have been better for the Palestinian.

Ruwayda Mustafah
United Kingdom
21/01/2009
This is a reply to one of the comments by "ben" on this article. The election was recognized as "fair" by the palestinians. The innocent civilians you refer to - in the past 8 years only 13 of them have been killed while killing more than 1000 in 3 weeks. You keep moaning about how al jazeera is portraying Hamas as weak, innocent an incapable of commiting an offence. That ceases to be the point, fine let us blame hamas for indescriminate and futile rockets. But will you too blame israel?

seph
Philippines
21/01/2009
support for Hamas
I firmly support Hamas for launching rockets in Israel. Israel is the one who provoked them to do that because they impose those inhumane economic blockade. Israel know that Hamas don't have technologies that can make their rockets accurate and they pressured them to retaliate, so that they can have a false reason for their attacks in Gaza. The Israeli economic blockade and occupation in Gaza are much more of a threat than missiles can do. It's justified for Hamas to retaliate for these reasons.

 
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