Ban Ki-moon visits Gaza

WATCH VIDEO

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (R) arrives for a visit at the United Nations compound that was struck by Israeli fire during Israel's offensive, in Gaza City January 20, 2009. Voicing shock at stark scenes of destruction, Ban visited the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, and Israel was poised to withdraw its troops before the U.S. presidential inauguration later in the day. [Agencies]

Ban later visited the rocket-scarred Israeli town of Sderot, where he said the rights of civilian should be respected and restored. Ban expressed sympathy for the constant tension that residents endure.

Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, said, "I expect basic international humanitarian law to protect the civilians to be respected and restored, not repeatedly violated as Hamas has done. I expect there to be accountability. Hamas must cease firing these rockets and I have always insisted on this."

Before setting off for Gaza, Ban met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem. Olmert insisted that Hamas could not be allowed to lead the reconstruction process in Gaza, which would give the group some measure of legitimacy.

Editor:Zhang Yun