MID: Ban calls Gaza situation 'heartbreaking'
20 Jan 2009 11:59 PM
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip, Jan 20 AP - UN chief Ban Ki-moon is calling on Israel and Hamas to show restraint and honour their recent ceasefire.
Ban issued the plea during a visit to the war-ravaged Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
During the tour, he visited UN facilities that were damaged during Israel's three-week offensive against Palestinian militants.
The operation caused several billion dollars worth of damage and killed some 1,300 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians.
Ban says he is heartbroken that it took so long to reach a ceasefire. He also said the truce remained fragile and urged the sides to show "maximum restraint."
After ending the Gaza tour, Ban is heading to Israel to visit a southern town that has been the repeated target of Palestinian rocket attacks.
