AMMAN, February 20, 2008, (WAFA)- United Nations called on Israel to halt the policy of collective punishment launched against the Palestinians in Gaza Strip where more than 1.5 millions live under a tight siege.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said in a speech delivered on behalf by Robert Serry , the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in a press conference in Amman saying "it is essential that Israel ceases all actions of collective punishment by providing the humanitarian supplies with free access in Gaza Strip".

"We have to work on reactivating the economical life of the Gazans by adopting a number of UN projects as well as reopening the Gaza crossings", he added.

Concerning a solution for the Palestinian dilemma, Ki-Moon said "what the Palestinians go through can not be dealt by through a permanent political settlement that would end the Israeli occupation. Thus giving the Palestinians a kind of independence".

He added that "the situation in Gaza can not go on. The UN bodies working on the ground would do its best to cease the Palestinian suffering where ever needed".