Annan demands Israel lift Gaza strip closure

UN chief Kofi Annan today demanded Israel lift its closure of the Gaza Strip and open crossing points there.

Annan also called for an end to the fighting between Israel and the Palestinians that has led to the deaths of more than 200 Palestinians since the end of June.

Israel has closed cargo and pedestrian crossing points in Gaza for long stretches this year following security alerts and attacks by Palestinian militants, causing widespread hardship for the Palestinian people.

“Over 200 Palestinians have been killed since the end of June. This must stop immediately,” Annan said.

“I have made my feelings known in talks with Israeli officials. Beyond preserving life, we have to sustain life, the closure of Gaza must be lifted, the crossing points must be opened, not just to allow goods, but to allow Palestinian exports out as well.”

Annan addressed reporters in Ramallah after meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, part of a tour of the Middle East intended primarily to shore up a brittle UN-brokered truce that ended 34 days of fighting between Israel and Lebanon.

A key part of that truce deal involves the deployment of up to 15,000 UN peacekeepers to Lebanon.

International officials have proposed deploying a similar force in Gaza, where Israel launched a military incursion two months ago after militants linked to the ruling Hamas Party killed two Israeli soldiers and captured a third in a cross-border raid.

“We don’t have immediate plans for the deployment of troops to the Palestinian territories,” Annan said, urging the Palestinians to end their infighting.

Annan said he agreed with Abbas that an end to the Israeli occupation of lands the Palestinians claim for a future state, and the creation of that state “is the key to resolving the problems of this troubled region”.