UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged Israel to reconsider its decision to declare the Gaza Strip “an enemy entity,” saying the move was contrary to the Jewish state’s obligations towards civilians under international law.

“I call for Israel to reconsider this decision,” the secretary general said in a statement. “Such a step would be contrary to Israel’s obligations towards the civilian population (of Gaza) under international humanitarian and human rights law.”

In his statement, Ban said he was “very concerned” at Israel’s decision, including “its announced intent to interrupt essential services such as electricity and fuel to the civilian population.” “There are 1.4 million people in Gaza, including the old, the young and the sick, who are already suffering from the impact of prolonged (border) closure,” the UN chief said. “They should not be punished for the unacceptable actions of militants and extremists.” But he also deplored “the continued indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel” as “unacceptable” and said it should “stop immediately”.

“I understand Israel’s security concerns over this matter,” Ban said.—AFP