KHAN YOUNIS, February 2, 2012 (WAFA) - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday called on Israel to open Gaza crossings and to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2006.

Ban said in a press conference following his visit to an UNRWA housing project in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis that there are many international projects on hold due to Israeli closure of the crossings and ban on entry of necessary material.

He said he will discuss this matter with Israeli officials in order to allow free movement and access for building material to complete these projects, which are important for Palestinian refugees.

He reiterated UN opposition to violence and the firing of home made rockets into southern Israel from Gaza, calling for intensification of efforts and meetings between Palestinians and Israelis to reach a peace solution.

Upon entry into Gaza from Israel, Ban’s motorcade was attacked with eggs and shoes thrown by families of prisoners who feel the UN has neglected their sufferings.

While this incident did not hurt anyone and Ban was able to continue in his short visit to the Gaza Strip, joking at the press conference about the “warm welcome” he had received at the crossing, the Palestine Liberation Organization apologized to Ban for the treatment he had received in Gaza.

It said in a statement that the attack on the motorcade “is condemned and an awkward behavior.”

Families of prisoners were not the only ones who have vented their anger at the UN failure to give their imprisoned sons some attention, representatives of the civil society also boycotted a planned meeting with Ban in Gaza, which was later cancelled also to protest treatment of prisoners on Israeli jails.

Statements attributed to Ban’s spokesperson expressed “regret” at the cancellation of the meeting.

“The Secretary-General regrets this missed opportunity for an important exchange with Gazan civil society representatives,” said the statement.

“The Secretary-General is concerned about the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails,” said the spokesperson, who referred to a meeting Ban had with Minister of Prisoners Affairs Issa Qaraqi at Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s office in Ramallah on Wednesday. Qaraqi handed the UN chief a letter outlining the concerns of families of prisoners.

“Today the Secretary-General traveled to Gaza and visited a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) housing project and a school where he joined girl students in their classroom,” said the spokesperson. “He also met with children who suffered serious injuries during the conflict. He was deeply moved by their stories.”

“The United Nations continues to call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law,” said the spokesperson’s statement.

Ban is visiting the region to try to kick-start stalled peace negotiations. He had met on Wednesday with President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and before that with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

T.R./M.S.