Citing civilian casualties, Annan calls on Israel to stop incursions in Gaza Strip

Reacting to mounting civilian casualties, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called on the Government of Israel to halt its military incursions into the Gaza Strip while urging the Palestinian Authority to press militants to hold their fire.

The operations “have led to the deaths of scores of Palestinians, among them many civilians, including children,” a spokesman for Mr. Annan noted in a statement issued on Sunday.

The statement also called on the Palestinian Authority to take action to halt the firing of rockets against Israeli targets by Palestinian militants.

“He reminds both sides to this conflict that they have a legal obligation to protect all civilians,” the spokesman said.