In Gaza, UN chief calls Israel siege 'unsustainable and wrong'

It is no more wrong to keep Shalit in captivity than it is to keep thousands of Palestinians imprisoned under administrative detention. They were picked up with no accusation of a crime, simply at the will of the Israeli government, and have had no legal action taken against them. They have no legal rights and no way to protest their imprisonment. But then again they are gentiles so they're not really people to you.

UN is useless because it opposes our rocket attacks on Gaza.

The "WALL" happens to be built on Palestinian land for starters. Why not on land in the "sovereign nation of Israel."? Why would anyone BLAME Israel for anything? After all they are the ONLY democracy in the ME, aren't they? Or did I notice that you accepted that the Palestinian government (Hamas) are the OTHER democratically elected government in the ME? Gotta protect them "democracies" eh, except the ones which Israelis don't like! (Another IK'er)

Who financed Hamas in the first place, as opposition to Arafat? Could it have been the Fijians? Who held to a cease-fire for 6 months, just prior to "Cast Lead"? Who broke that cease-fire? I don't think it was the Fijians, in either case. I believe that IK is starting a club, you should join, you appear to have all the right qualifications.

After listening to the blustering of Israeli leaders and the muted responses of the Obamas and Clintons, what a breath of fresh air for Ban Ki-moon to be condemning Israeli settlements and the siege of Gaza. And doing it face-to-face no less. Isn't he afraid that he'll be arrested and deported, as the U.N. rapporteur for Gaza, Richard Falk, was in early 2009?

"When Hamas was formed, Israel had already been occupying Palestinian and other Arab teritories for 21 years." You are delibaretly omitting the thruts. There was no siege in Gaza before 2005. Palies were working before the siege in Israel. Everyday 300000 people was passing the border day and night. If you start to wage a war the result is siege. What else should be done. Wake up if you open the borders how are you going to halt these rocket attacks that would target not only Sderot as well as TLV? Why do you blame Israel and not Fatah for their corrupt authority. Suha Arafat is now living in France with a fortune in her hands inherited from her famous husband YASER ARAFAT. The whole responsible is HAMAS not Israel for this situation. Aby

After listening yesterday to the Darfur Debates on the BBC, with Hamas and Fatah represented I am depressed and cannot see a future as they don't want to live side by side with Israel, just different ways of getting rid of Israel. Nothing has changed since 1948 and the young Palestinians in the audience were so misinformed it was frightening.

As the saying goes, he who makes the bed has to sleep on it.

A blank check? Just sign on the dotted line? Get a job. You've always abused you credit line. Madoff types. Salaam/Shalom

The Palestinians should consider themselves lucky. China would have wiped out the whole area years ago if it had to absorb a barage of rocket/terror attacks for years. If you are REALLY concerned with helping Palestians, devote ALL your energies to TOTALLY eliminating attacks upon the sovereign nation of Israel. TERROR built the WALL. TERROR SUSTAINS IT. TERROR PRODUCES THEIR POVERTY AND SHUTS THEM OUT OF ISRAEL. They Chose Terror in electing Hamas--now, Mr. Ban, you can stop blaming Israel and put some pressure on them, where it belongs. Perhaps they enjoy Sui-Homicide bombing, but Israel is NOT a suicidal culture.

All these guys worked their way up by kissing ass. They know what they have to do to keep their perquisites coming.

no one has to recognize the zio-entitys right to exist--i dont..its hardly a good reason to starve people...US does not require anyone recognize its right to exist because it is very secure that it does exist. hamas dictatorship? idiot hamas was democratically elected ...gawd you are stupid! and it was abbas and PLO with the coup...dumb and dumber...how can anyone get everything wrong? hamas does not enjoy the endorsement of the world cummunity...wrong again...how do you manage to be sooo stupid and dead wrong and stay alive?

Hamas is a genocidal fascist group, which should not get any legitimacy from nobody. Gazans have voted for them, and they should pay for their racism. And Egypt can be blamed for the blocade. Ban, the UN as it is (anti Israeli, anti Democracy, corrupt) is the reason for such fascist regimes like Hamas, Bashir (Sudan), Qadhafi, etc. to thrive. I still remember 1994: Rwanda! The world was obsessed with Israel and the "PEACE" process, as the genocide was in the making. The UN was defending all the way the horrible Hutu Regime there, because it was legitimate according to International Law. Something is deeply rotten.

... almost nothing... that's the tragedy, for both Pals and Israel...

It is clear the writer it just full of hate to write this "Islamist groups that share the same ideology with al Qaeda." What does Al Qaeda have to do with this?

Ban forgets how we arrived at this point. Freddy #1 is correct, 8000 unanswered rockets by Hamas, made the Israeli response necessary. Hamas has caused ALL SUFFERING by Gazans. The ball lies squarely with them. Many think the response was NOT strong enough, utilities should have been shut off. The only language Hamas understands is strength. Time to squeeze them into submission. The Gazans should get rid of them, perhaps their lives can return to normal. Until then, Ban can say what he wants, they ain't getting squat.

... about Hamas and other terror groups operating in Gaza? Rockets? Flying lessons for Fatah? Shalit? The article does not mention Ban saying anything.

oh dear Courcey you seem to have become obssessed with this issue...any other issues in the world you are so well versed about ? when amazonia injuns are thrown out of their forest homes by portuguese speaking colonialists.....who then burn them for soya plantations, what does courcey say ?

Given the realities of trans-Egyptian smuggling (not usually condemned as a "siege") and Israeli sanctioned humanitarian aid--notwithstanding that the roster of goods incoming to Gaza could be ramped up given means to prevent Hamas and Islamist infiltrators riding transport on the way back out--this is not currently a "starvation siege" on an "open prison".

You should really read some independent history. The US blockade of Cuba ended in 1963. I watched it end on TV. Your own country trades directly with Cuba.

How come the UN chief doesn't urge N. Korea to end its state of hostilities with S. Korea because it's also unsustainable and wrong? Or what about the "palis" long nourished hatred of Israel and Jews (since the Grand Mufti and the 1920's)-it too is wrong? Answer: easier to lean on the Jews and Israel...history has made them the perfect scapegoat, and because N. Korea and the "palis" would just laugh at Mr. Moon.

#2 it will happen just watch out time will come justice will be done

this is first sincere move mr moon i am positive you can bribg peace to mid east

Hamas is making tons of money thanks to the taxes it raises on all products coming from the tunnels under the Gaza-Egypt border. It is stronger than ever. The blockade only harms innocent civilians in Gaza, who are powerless to take over Hamas.

Wjat has the Israeli blockade achieved? Nothing, but destroy the image of Israel abroad. Shalit is, alas, still a prisonner, rockets are still pouring from the sky and killing people, Hamas is stil firmly in power. Time for a change in policy!

Gaza is not part of the State of Israel and has NO RIGHT to enter it's boundaries. If it cannot survive on its own then perhaps they should abandon it and move elsewhere. The land will then revert back to the desert it once was prior to Israel's presence.

HAMAS was created by Israel as a counter political force to the PLO. I guess you reap what you sow.

Just remove the troops, open the gates, and let 'em in...It's for the best, Ban-ki Moon. What South Korea is doing to North Korea is unsustainable and wrong...

Dear Arnold when I mentioned Spain 1492, that is exactly what I meant what you have described already.Did I mention Jerusalem 15July,1099,when all the Jewish inhabitant were slaughtered in spite of the fact that they were not the rulers of the city.Do I make the point describing that during 1st crusade mobs through out Europe massacred Jews.Jews suffered enough in history starting with Babylonian deportation of Jews from Holy land 930BC.Now it is time for them to treat other tribe of Palestine humanely because no other race other than Jews themselves know the pains and sufferings of stateless people.

"Does anyone doubt what the result would be?" - Chet Interesting question. The UN Charter provides that "Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations. The admission of any such state to membership in the United Nations will be effected by a decision of the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council." No, Israel would not make the cut. But that does not matter because it would still control the US Veto.

Israel's blockade is sustainable because there is no cost to Israel for it's sadism. Ban Ki-moon only emphasizes his own impotence by drawing attention to a humanitarian crisis which he is unwilling to take on in the Security Council.

because herein lies the core of the problem and the siege is just a symptom of it. Perhaps Ban should call for the replacement of the Hamas dictatorship too. So Quickly forgotten are the peace-loving Palestinians who were executed by the bloodthirsty Hamas dictators during their coup. Only extremists are left standing and they seem to have the endorsement of the world community. How can there be peace when such international hypocrisy exists?

I am sure you are a well meaning person but your comparisons of the plight of the Gazans as compared to the plight of the Jews throughout history is shameful. I guess you know the dates and names but not the horrifying details. Spain in 1492 and then followqed by the Spanish Inquisition is when Jews were tortured beyond your imangination and all in the name of CHRISTIANITY. When you read about the treatment of Jews at that time please come back here and see if your feelings are the same as to how the Palestinians in Gaza are being treated.

Israelis can not be pushed into the sea nor Palestinians can vanish into the air.The only solution is coexistence.It is shameful for the Israelis to behave and treat the Palestinians the way Jews were treated by Spain in 1492 or by the Corsicans in 12th century, not to mention the infamous and notorious Nazi's genocide.History is a good source of knowledge.Who wants to forget the Ghettos of Warsaw and of other European cities.Can not be justified Israeli injustice, to Palestinians, that was meted out to previous generation of Israelis by Europeans.

I think you got totally wrong!

What is Ban saying about it? He said that is as well despicable

when somebody commits a crime he gets arrested and then is brought to trial. hamas commits crimes every day, why can`t somebody go to them and arrest those responsible? why are they allowed to commit more crimes every day? is it right that the israelis have to endure the palestinian oppression? I DISAGREE!

when somebody commits a crime he gets arrested and then is brought to trial. israel commits crimes every day, why can`t somebody go to them and arrest those responsible? why are they allowed to commit more crimes every day? is it right that the palestinians have to endure the israeli oppression?

Israel controls all supplies into Gaza, even from the Egyptian side. Most of the time, almost no supplies are allowed in. When they are allowed in, it is very restrictive. Some of Israels supporters try to paint a pretty mask on an ugly face. You prefer to try to make everyone else uglier in order to make Israel look less ugly by comparison. In the end, people see through that deception and they become more anti-Israel in the bargain. If you ever stopped posting, I would have to adopt your handle and post the same kind of nonsense.

Let's see if I got this right: Egypt and Israel, with international backing, keep up an embargo on Hamas in the Gaza strip. But Israel is asked to lift this unilaterally. Why not Egypt, too? Israel isn't bloclading the Strip just to spite Ban and deprive Gazans of life's essentials, you know.

"Get rid of Hamas and we maybe we can all live in peace". When Hamas was formed, Israel had already been occupying Palestinian and other Arab teritories for 21 years. There was no peace, only a rabid expansionist neighbourhood bully cutting pieces out of other people's lands. Hamas' existence was born out of that reality, and the failure of Fatah to make any headway fighting for the Palestinian cause. Hamas' victory in fair elections(forgotten by many) was the result of Israel's intransigence in spite of more and more conformity by Fatah. Israel and her enablers fail to realise that the more one sidelines the moderates, the more relevant the extremists become.

What is Ban saying about it?

In this farce of a debate, there is a panel of 4.....2 on the hamas side, and 2 on the PA side... The only discussion taking place, is how best to get rid of ALL of israel...this is not about gaza and WB, it is about israel INSIDE the green line...israel rightly knows what they are facing...the people here on haarets and elsewhere around the world who THINK this code word "occupation" is about gaza and west bank are either delusional, ill informed, ignorant or anti semitic. It IS that simple. All of you who deny this with this excuse or that excuse simply are avoiding the truth, as time and time again is laid bare from the mouths of the PA, HAMAS, the lebanese, the syrians, the iranians, the saudis etc... What a disgrace the arabs are and by defacto, Obama. Obama KNOWS that the arabs at large are not talking about WB and Gaza, nor about golan or shaaba farms...HE KNOWS and yet he won't come out and say to the arabs, until you accept Israel even INSIDE the green line, we will not engage in a false peace process, and not only that, but we will strengthen israel and strengthen her security. Nabil shaath and abdullah abdullah are on the PA side of this farce called a debate in doha..and BOTH of them are for taking down all of israel. This is the so called moderate side of the palestinians....what they want is perfectly crystal clear. It is a complete joke...if you ask me, israel is being pushed into a false peace, KNOWING that this is a trojan horse. Obama is a real disgrace.

when somebody commits a crime he gets arrested and then is brought to trial. hamas commits crimes every day, why can`t somebody go to them and arrest those responsible? why are they allowed to commit more crimes every day? is it right that the israelis have to endure the palestinian oppression?

UNSG Ban, where was the UN when Arabs started 48 war and performed ethnic cleaning of Jerusalem and Judea/ Samaria? Where was the UN when Arab countries forced Jews out of various countries in 48 & 67? Where were UN investigations when Hamas / Hezbollah rained rockets on innocent civilians? What is UN doing about forcing elected Gazan government to follow Geneva convention? Quartet was established because UN supports Arab terrorists/ propaganda.

To preempt the usual cobble howling "Everybody is allowed to trade with Cuba ,no blockade !"-merchandise to Cuba is not passing through Amrican ports or allowed to transit throug the american territory. All supplies to Gaza are allowed to pass throuh Israeli territory ,while pals Qassam Israel.

Does anyone doubt what the result would be?

when somebody commits a crime he gets arrested and then is brought to trial. israel commits crimes every day, why can't somebody go to them and arrest those responsible? why are they allowed to commit more crimes every day? is it right that the palestinians have to endure the israeli oppression?

You are not an honest peace broker if you blame Israel. Where is Gilad Shalit? Why should Israel accept rockets for years? I for one am so relieved I don't hear bombs going off in Tel Aviv or Hadera, or Natanya, or Jerusalem, as in the past, so the Israeli government should be commended not condemned.Pity the poor children in Sderot who live in terror. Get rid of Hamas and maybe we can all live in peace.