UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon Visits Gaza, Israel

UN Chief Ban Ki Moon toured both the war torn Gaza Strip and rocket scarred Israeli town of Sderot today after Israel and Hamas both called for a ceasefire.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon toured Gaza City today and also attended a special ceremony at the still smoldering UN headquarters. Ban lead a moment of silence for the victims of an Israeli bomb attack at UN properties where Palestinians had fled seeking refuge. Ban said that the attacks against UN properties as "outrageous" and he has demanded that a full investigation be undertaken. The Times Online quotes Ban as saying:

It is an outrageous and totally unacceptable attack on the United Nations. There must be a full investigation, a full explanation to make sure it never happens again. There should be accountabilty through a proper judiciary system.

Ban also said he was shocked and alarmed at the level of destruction in Gaza. It is being reported that one sixth of the buildings in Gaza were reduced to rubble. After his three-hour tour, the Secretary General headed to the Souther Israeli town of Sderot where the Associated Press is reporting that he called the rocket attacks on southern Israel by the Palestinians appalling and unacceptable. Ban also commented on the fact that Hamas was using the rocket as indiscriminate weapons, and that the attacks are violations of basic humanitarian law.