Palestinians hurl shoes at UN chief near Gaza strip
Source: Agencies |
February 3, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PALESTINIANS tried to block the UN chief from entering the Gaza Strip and flung slippers at his armored convoy yesterday, the second day of Ban Ki-moon's mission to the region to keep informal peace talks alive.
About 40 relatives of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails gathered at the Erez Crossing between Gaza and Israel, hoisting posters with pictures of their loved ones and signs in English and Arabic reading, "Ban Ki-moon, enough bias to Israel."
Some swung their signs and wooden sticks at Ban's convoy in protest. Three of them threw slippers at his car and another hurled a boot - an insulting gesture that is associated with an Iraqi protester who hurled shoes at former US President George W. Bush at a news conference in Baghdad in 2008.
The relatives, angry that Ban would not be meeting with them, formed a human chain at the crossing in an effort to block his vehicle, but Hamas security forces moved them away so Ban could enter.
"We came here in a symbolic message to Mr Ban Ki-moon that Palestinians from Gaza want to have the right to visit their children and loved ones in Israeli jails," said Jamal Farwana, a spokesman for Gaza prisoners' families. "He should make more of an effort to release the prisoners and we wonder why every time he avoids meeting families of Palestinian prisoners."
Israel holds about 7,000 Palestinian prisoners. Relatives from Gaza haven't been able to visit them in jail since 2006 because of strict restrictions on who can enter Israel from the coastal strip, which is run by Hamas militants violently opposed to Israel.
Ban is on a mission to the area to try to keep informal talks between Palestinians and Israelis going.
Speaking to reporters, Ban thanked the people of Gaza for their "warm welcome."
"I met many people who were waiting for me at the entrance and I fully share their fear and frustration. That is why I am here," he said, referring to the incident at the border crossing. "There is a very dire social, economic and humanitarian problem. People need to move freely ... I have urged the Israeli authorities to lift the restrictions completely and unconditionally."
About 40 relatives of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails gathered at the Erez Crossing between Gaza and Israel, hoisting posters with pictures of their loved ones and signs in English and Arabic reading, "Ban Ki-moon, enough bias to Israel."
Some swung their signs and wooden sticks at Ban's convoy in protest. Three of them threw slippers at his car and another hurled a boot - an insulting gesture that is associated with an Iraqi protester who hurled shoes at former US President George W. Bush at a news conference in Baghdad in 2008.
The relatives, angry that Ban would not be meeting with them, formed a human chain at the crossing in an effort to block his vehicle, but Hamas security forces moved them away so Ban could enter.
"We came here in a symbolic message to Mr Ban Ki-moon that Palestinians from Gaza want to have the right to visit their children and loved ones in Israeli jails," said Jamal Farwana, a spokesman for Gaza prisoners' families. "He should make more of an effort to release the prisoners and we wonder why every time he avoids meeting families of Palestinian prisoners."
Israel holds about 7,000 Palestinian prisoners. Relatives from Gaza haven't been able to visit them in jail since 2006 because of strict restrictions on who can enter Israel from the coastal strip, which is run by Hamas militants violently opposed to Israel.
Ban is on a mission to the area to try to keep informal talks between Palestinians and Israelis going.
Speaking to reporters, Ban thanked the people of Gaza for their "warm welcome."
"I met many people who were waiting for me at the entrance and I fully share their fear and frustration. That is why I am here," he said, referring to the incident at the border crossing. "There is a very dire social, economic and humanitarian problem. People need to move freely ... I have urged the Israeli authorities to lift the restrictions completely and unconditionally."
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