UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon reiterated Friday a request to Israel to allow the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, reported the dpa. A UN spokeswoman said Ban "underscores the importance of having Israel urgently permit the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of Gaza, and regrets that his calls have not yet been heeded." The UN said living conditions in the Hamas-held Palestinian enclave have deteriorated because of the continued closure of major crossing points by Israel. Ban also repeated his condemnation of rocket and other attacks by Palestinian militants against Israeli civilian targets, Michelle Montas said. "He calls for an end to such attacks and urges full respect by all parties for the calm that has been in effect since 19 June, 2008," Montas said, referring to the ceasefire agreed by Hamas and Israel.
