Alarmed by recent statements from the Hamas leadership in Gaza about their intention to continue building tunnels and firing rockets at Israel, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday said such remarks and actions do “serious disservice” to Gaza’s long-suffering people and put at risk the international community’s humanitarian and development efforts.
“Such statements and actions put at risk reconstruction, humanitarian and development efforts by the international community and Palestinian and Israeli authorities. They also do a serious disservice to the long-suffering people of Gaza,” Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
“After three devastating conflicts in seven years, people in Gaza and the people of southern Israel deserve a chance for peace and development,” the Secretary-General’s statement continued, underscoring that every effort must be made to improve the living conditions of the people of Gaza.
“The Secretary-General reiterates his condemnation of terrorism in all its manifestations,” it concluded.
Earlier this week, the Secretary-General, on the same day Israel buried terror victim Shlomit Krigman, excused Palestinian terror, telling the Security Council, “It is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu responded, saying “The secretary-general’s remarks provide a tailwind for terrorism. There is no justification for terrorism. Those Palestinians who murder do not want to build a state, they want to destroy a state and they say this openly.”