Ban renews call for probe of Israeli attacks on UN facilities

UN chief Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moon reiterated Wednesday his demand for a full explanation of recent "outrageous" Israeli attacks on UN facilities in the Gaza Strip during a Security Council briefing on his Middle East tour.

With the UN secretary general unable to speak due to a sore throat, UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe read out a statement on his behalf saying Ban wanted "a thorough investigation by Israel into every single one of these incidents."

The attacks, which Ban described as "outrageous," included strikes on a compound of the UN agency providing aid for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), and on a UN school last week during the three-week Israeli war on Gaza.

"I expect a full explanation of each incident and that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions," the statement quoted Ban as saying.

The UN chief noted that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud OlmertPrime Minister Ehud Olmert promised to provide results of the Israeli enquiry "on an urgent basis" and said he would then decide on "appropriate follow-up action."

At least four UN-run schools were hit in Israeli strikes, including one on Saturday in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya where some 1,600 people were sheltering.

Saturday's strike occurred two days after Ban was given Israeli assurances that such attacks would not recur.

Ban, describing the scenes during a visit to post-war Gaza Tuesday as "heartbreaking," became the first world leader to travel to the enclave since Israel halted its deadliest offensive on the besieged Palestinian territory, ruled by the Islamist movement Hamas since June 2007.

Meanwhile, the Security Council adopted a non-binding statement stressing the need for full implementation of its Resolution 1860, adopted earlier this month, including a call for a Gaza ceasefire "to be durable and fully respected by all parties."

The British-French statement also stressed that the Council resolution calls for the "provision of arrangements and guarantees to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition to Gaza, and to ensure the sustained reopening of" all crossing points into the Mediterranean strip.

It also urged all parties to ensure that UN agencies "receive the support and protection they need," and recalled the obligation of all parties to a conflict to "ensure respect for international law."

Council members also encouraged "tangible steps toward intra-Palestinian reconciliation and stressed the need to continue to work towards a long-term solution."

Ryad Mansour, the Palestinian UN observer, immediately welcomed the Council statement.

He also hailed the fact that UN humanitarian chief John Holmes and UN special Middle East coordinator Robert Serry would begin a mission to Gaza to assess relief aid needs in the wake of the devastating Israeli offensive.

More than 1,300 Palestinians, nearly a third of them children, were reportedly killed in the 22-day Israeli military onslaught on Gaza launched with the declared aim of stopping rocket attacks on southern Israel by Palestinian militants.

Another 5,300 Palestinians were wounded and Gaza infrastructure suffered massive damage totaling some 476 million dollars, according to Palestinian medics and officials.

Ten Israeli soldiers and three civilians were killed in Israel during the same period.

Israel has come under fire for using excessive force during the conflict with Amnesty International accusing the Jewish state of war crimes.

The 47-member UN Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, voted by a large majority on January 12 to set up a probe into "grave" human rights violations by Israeli forces against Palestinians.