UN chief to brief Security Council on Middle East trip

Earlier Tuesday, the UN chief met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, again expressing his relief that Israel had declared a unilateral cease-fire. He stressed the importance of the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and of putting a framework in place to ensure a durable and sustainable end to the violence.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (R) arrives for a visit at the United Nations compound that was struck by Israeli fire during Israel's offensive, in Gaza City January 20, 2009. Voicing shock at stark scenes of destruction, Ban visited the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, and Israel was poised to withdraw its troops before the U.S. presidential inauguration later in the day. [Agencies]

He told Olmert the UN would continue to play a pivotal role in providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, as well as in long term recovery and reconstruction.

In addition to visiting Gaza, Ban was also visiting the town of Sderot in southern Israel, a frequent target of Hamas rocket attacks. He has frequently condemned these attacks as well as Israel's disproportionate response.

The three weeks of conflict has left more than 1,300 Palestinians killed, 412 of them children, and wounded more than 5,300, of whom 1,855 were children, as well as causing widespread destruction and suffering.

Ban said a true end to violence, and true security for both Israelis and Palestinians, would only come through a just and comprehensive settlement to the long-festering Arab-Israeli conflict, including the creation of the State of Palestine living side by side with the State of Israel, in peace and security, consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions.

The Security Council gave its backing to Ban as he set off last Tuesday for the week-long Middle East trip in a bid to push for a cease-fire in the Gaza conflict. The tour has taken him to Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Kuwait.

Israel began air strikes on Gaza on Dec. 27 and launched a ground invasion of the Palestinian territory on Jan. 3 in a bid to stamp out rocket fire on southern Israel by Hamas militants.