GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – The U.N. chief on Tuesday criticized Israel’s blockade of Gaza, a day after Israel and Turkey reached a broad reconciliation pact that looked to ease, but not eliminate, the isolation of the coastal strip.
In a visit to the region, which included a stop at a Gaza school, Ban Ki-moon bemoaned the plight of Gazans, saying that “the closure of Gaza suffocates its people, stifles its economy and impedes reconstruction efforts.”
“It’s a collective punishment for which there must be accountability,” the secretary-general added.
Meanwhile, in low-key affairs, Israel and Turkey formalized their agreement to restore full diplomatic relations after six years of animosity between the once-close allies.
In Ankara, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioglu signed the deal, paving the way for its approval in parliament. The largely procedural signing was closed to the media. In a similar, parallel ceremony, Israeli Foreign Ministry Director General Dore Gold signed the pact in Jerusalem.