United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for a halt to the Israeli disproportionate use of force in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, which has already killed and wounded many civilians, according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric during Annan's visit to Germany today. “As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, I appeal again to both sides to pull back from the brink for the sake of all civilians in the region,” said Annan in the statement. Annan is referring to the 31 Palestinians killed during the military incursions and air strikes in Gaza over the past two days, part of the Israeli escalation of violence after Palestinians kidnapped Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit on June 25.
