New York: Israel has virtually rejected an appeal by UN chief Ban Ki-moon that Tel Aviv end the prolonged blockade of Gaza strip where humanitarian situation is fast deteriorating and essential commodities are in short supply.

With UN agencies raising hue and cry over their inability to provide aid to Palestinians in Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Ban rang up Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday to express his concern over the consequences of deteriorating humanitarian situation there.

Ban asked Olmert to facilitate the freer movement of urgently needed humanitarian supplies and of UN personnel. But Olmert told Ban about firing of rockets into Israel from Gaza in response to which Tel Aviv has imposed the blockade.

Without promising anything, the Israel Prime Minister agreed to look seriously into the matter, UN officials said.

Meanwhile, the top United Nations human rights official called for an immediate end to the Israeli blockade which, she said, contravened international law and had deprived those living there of their most basic human rights for months.

"By function of this blockade, 1.5 million Palestinian men, women and children have been forcibly deprived of their most basic human rights for months," said Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. "This is in direct contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law. It must end now," she said.

Pillay called on the Israeli authorities to facilitate the urgent passage of essential humanitarian goods into Gaza, including food, medical supplies and fuel, to allow the immediate restoration of electricity, water and other essential services, and to lift restrictions on the movement of civilians for medical, educational and religious purposes.
Source : PTI