Israel ignores UN call to ease siege

[TriWooOx]

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has brushed off UN calls for the reopening of the border crossings with the Gaza Strip for humanitarian aid.

On Wednesday, Ehud Barak rebuffed a call by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to ease the Gaza blockade, following two weeks of violence.

When asked by Israeli Army Radio about Ban's appeal and whether Israel intends to reopen the crossings, Barak said: "No. There needs to be calm in order for the crossings to be opened."

In a telephone call with the outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday, Ban "strongly urged [him] to facilitate the freer movement of urgently needed humanitarian supplies" and UN aid workers into the Gaza Strip, the UN press office said.

"The Secretary-General telephoned today to express his deep concern over the consequences of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza," the press office noted.

Israel has toughened its siege on the Gaza Strip and has carried out military operations against the Palestinians settled in the area for nearly two weeks, killing and wounding a number of them.

In response to the attacks, Palestinian fighters have fired homemade rockets into the Israeli-occupied territories over the two weeks.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=75 ... =351020202