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UN's Ban demands Hamas release seized Gaza aid
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday pressed Hamas to release the humanitarian aid shipment it seized in the Gaza Strip and provide assurances that no further aid would be taken. Ban's spokeswoman Michele Montas told reporters that Ban "demands that Hamas immediately release the (U.N.) consignment of humanitarian goods it seized last night, in the second such incident this week, and to refrain from interference with the provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance." She added that Ban wanted guarantees that it would not happen again. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said earlier it has stopped importing aid into the Gaza Strip after the Hamas government seized hundreds of tons of food assistance. The decision came after 10 truckloads of rice and flour, more than 200 tons, brought in by the agency were seized on Thursday on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel, UNRWA said. Hamas reacted quickly by saying that the aid supplies were seized "by mistake" and will be returned. Posted by: Fred 2009-02-07 |
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