Posted on 10/24/2014 1:35:41 PM PDT by Lorianne
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits southern Israel, Gaza Strip • Ban: The build-destroy, build-destroy cycle in Gaza must be broken • Ban tours terror tunnel near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, calls threats posed by rockets and tunnels "not acceptable."
The U.N. Human Rights Council's investigation of Operation Protective Edge will go ahead as planned, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the two met in Jerusalem earlier this week. Israel tried to convince Ban that an internal Israeli probe of the recent Gaza operation would be sufficient, but Ban made clear he would await the results of the U.N. Human Rights Council's inquiry.
Ban visited southern Israel and the Gaza Strip on Tuesday and told both sides what they wanted to hear. After meeting in Gaza with members of the Palestinian unity government, Ban said, "I am here with a very heavy heart. The destruction which I have seen coming here is beyond description. This is much more serious destruction than I saw in 2009 immediately after the violence at that time."
Speaking at a press conference in Gaza on Tuesday afternoon, Ban said, "I met so many of the beautiful children of Gaza. More than 500 were killed during the conflict -- many more were wounded. What have they done wrong? Being born in Gaza is not a crime."
"There can be no peace in the Middle East, no security for Israel, while the crisis in Gaza festers," Ban said. "The build-destroy, build-destroy cycle must be broken."
Later on Tuesday, Ban visited Kibbutz Nirim, near the Gaza border. After meeting with the family of Daniel Tragerman, the 4-year-old boy killed in Nahal Oz by a mortal shell during Operation Protective Edge, Ban said, "What has he done wrong? Why has he to die? Even without knowing anything, even without being able to grow up. This is very sad."
Ban vowed to southern Israel residents that the $5.4 billion dollars pledged to Gaza reconstruction at the international donors conference in Cairo on Sunday would not be used by Hamas to fund terrorist activities.
Israeli government officials showed Ban the opening to a tunnel near Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha that was used by terrorists from Gaza.
"I was shocked and alarmed by the underground tunnels," Ban said. "It is not acceptable. No one should live under constant threat or fear of these rockets or the penetrating underground tunnels."
Also on Tuesday, Israel allowed the first shipment of construction materials to enter Gaza since Operation Protective Edge ended in late August. Israel called the move a "pilot" initiative, as it is still wary that building materials could be used by Hamas to rebuild its military infrastructure. The U.N. is monitoring the use of construction materials that enter Gaza from Israel, to ensure the materials are not diverted for Hamas military purposes.
Raed Fattouh, the Palestinian Authority coordinator for imports to Gaza, said 75 trucks of cement, aggregates and metal supplies were entering Gaza -- double the daily average in 2013.
The IDF also says that in the coming weeks it will permit Gaza farmers to sell produce to the West Bank for the first time since Hamas took over Gaza in 2007.
Gambling?
At Rick’s?
A man from a country where the enemy has been tunneling in for decades is shocked by tunnels? Pull the other one, it has bells on it!
Yep, the man is a hapless fool if we are being generous
Talk about a clueless mother ———. Why does he think 500 children died? 500? Bull stuff!
He tours the tunnels, and his conclusion is that Israel simply causes too much destruction.
Never-mind the cause of Israel’s response ready to cave in on him.
That Israel. If only it couldn’t force the Gazan’s to try to destroy it.
This guy gives Kofi Annan a run for his money, as the U. N.s biggest fool.
He will probably turn around and accuse Israel of digging the tunnels...
Remember the UN was run for 10 years by a Nazi. Fools are actually an improvement.
No, but being born to mohamiciadal parents is hazardous to everyone's health!
I worked with some guys who discovered one of those tunnels way back when. I monitored the important sectors of the DMZ for Lieutenant General Ross during my shifts. I know that Moon knows about those tunnels. Everyone in South Korea knows about them.
..................
As though the Palestinians care about someone named Moon. And shocked as he is, Moon will solicit hundreds of millions to re build the tunnels
-——Being born in Gaza is not a crime——
they are guilty by association
Yes, I wouldn’t doubt it.
Kurt Waldheim Dies at 88; Ex-U. N. Chief (Secretary General) Hid Nazi Past
He promises that the $5.4 billion in aid won’t be used for terrorist activities. Like the UN has such a stellar reputation in making the Palestinians account for the money and materials.
“I’m shocked, shocked that there has been rampant bomb making going on here!!”
This has been going forever, everybody knows that. Duh!
That the UN is shocked that there are tunnels in Gaza...
I’d personally like to moon this idiot.
I’ll post pics on Twitter if you do. lol
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