Palestinians throw shoes at UN chief’s convoy

PanARMENIAN.Net - Palestinian protesters threw shoes and chairs at the convoy of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as it entered the Gaza Strip on Thursday, Feb 2, witnesses said.

About 40 Palestinians waited for Ban on the Palestinian side of the Erez crossing with Israel, north of Gaza City. When his convoy of several UN cars crossed over, it was hit by objects thrown at it, the witnesses said.

While DPA reported that shoes and chairs were flung at the convoy, Reuters said the objects thrown were shoes, sticks and stones, and the Associated Press said "slippers" were hurled at "armored vehicles."

It was not clear whether the vehicle transporting Ban was hit as well, Haaretz reported, citing DPA.

Many of those who protested as the UN convoy passed were family members of Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons. They held signs in English and Arabic bearing slogans accusing Ban of bias toward Israel and of refusing to meet the relatives of Palestinian prisoners. Some posters read, "Ban Ki-moon, enough bias to Israel."

About 5,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli jails and securing their release is a highly emotive issue in Palestinian society.

The relatives formed a human chain at the crossing in an effort to block Ban's vehicle, but Hamas security forces accompanying the convoy moved them away so he could enter Gaza.

Ban was heading to the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, where he is to inaugurate a UN-sponsored construction project. He is visiting the region to try to restart long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

No one was injured during the hostile welcome.