Gaza crossings remain closed to fuel and aid supplies, reports UN
17 December 2008 – All crossings for goods going from Israel into the Gaza Strip, home to 1.5 million Palestinians, are closed today, the Âé¶¹APP reported.
No fuel, humanitarian supplies or commercial commodities are being allowed in, according to the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO).
UNSCO also noted that the Gaza power plant is operating with limited output, resulting in continued power cuts in Gaza City and elsewhere.
Israel closed border crossings into Gaza at the beginning of November citing rocket and other attacks by militants in the area against civilian targets in Israel as the reason.
in New York today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the humanitarian suffering of the people of Gaza has been “one of my top concerns.”
Mr. Ban, who has condemned rocket attacks by Palestinian militants in Gaza against Israeli civilian targets, added that he understood the “legitimate” concerns of the Israeli Government and people for security and safety.
Nevertheless, “the security concern should not give any reason to neglect or abuse the humanitarian situation… and human rights,” he noted.
Document Sources: Âé¶¹APP Department of Public Information (DPI), Âé¶¹APP News Service, Âé¶¹APP Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO)
Subject: Access and movement, Economic issues, Gaza Strip, Human rights and international humanitarian law, Incidents
Publication Date: 17/12/2008