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- Dec 29, 2008
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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Friday demanded that Hamas immediately release the UN humanitarian aid supplies it seized in Gaza.
"The secretary-general demands that the Hamas immediately release the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) consignment of humanitarian goods it seized last night, in the second such incident this week," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesperson.
The secretary-general also called upon Hamas "to refrain from interference with the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance in Gaza," the statement said.
UNRWA has suspended the import of humanitarian goods into Gaza until the aid is returned and guarantees of no future such occurrences are provided, the statement said.
"All parties must refrain from interfering with, or hampering the provision and distribution of, urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza," the statement said.
However, Hamas said earlier Friday that it seized the humanitarian goods "by mistake" and would return the supplies after UNRWA is determined to suspend importing humanitarian relief goods into the Gaza Strip, reports said.
"The secretary-general reiterates the Security Council's call, in its resolution 1860, for the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including food, fuel and medical treatment," the statement said.
UN chief demands Hamas immediately release seized aid supplies_English_Xinhua
"The secretary-general demands that the Hamas immediately release the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) consignment of humanitarian goods it seized last night, in the second such incident this week," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesperson.
The secretary-general also called upon Hamas "to refrain from interference with the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance in Gaza," the statement said.
UNRWA has suspended the import of humanitarian goods into Gaza until the aid is returned and guarantees of no future such occurrences are provided, the statement said.
"All parties must refrain from interfering with, or hampering the provision and distribution of, urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the civilian population in Gaza," the statement said.
However, Hamas said earlier Friday that it seized the humanitarian goods "by mistake" and would return the supplies after UNRWA is determined to suspend importing humanitarian relief goods into the Gaza Strip, reports said.
"The secretary-general reiterates the Security Council's call, in its resolution 1860, for the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including food, fuel and medical treatment," the statement said.
UN chief demands Hamas immediately release seized aid supplies_English_Xinhua
