UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday
he was "deeply grieved" at the scenes he witnessed in Gaza following
a three-week Israeli offensive, adding they were "heartbreaking," dpa reported.
He added he was "appalled" also at the damage done to the world
body's Gaza City headquarters.
"I'm just appalled. I'm not able to describe how I am feeling at this
sight," he said of the compound, which was was struck by several Israeli
shells late last week.
"This is heartbreaking," he told a news conference at the
headquarters. "I am deeply grieved at what I have seen today."
Ban said he planned to dispatch a humanitarian assessment team to Gaza on Thursday.
"I have condemned on the outbreak of the conflict the excessive use of
force by Israeli forces in Gaza," Ban said, adding however that he also
viewed Palestinian rocket attacks at southern Israel as "completely
unacceptable."
The top UN diplomat called for a "full investigation" into
civilians deaths in the war.
"The UN will do all we can," he pledged.
He said Palestinian unity was needed to allow a recovery process and the
opening of Gaza's border crossings.
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