The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, United Nations

UN chief Ban Ki-moon called Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Friday to express disappointment over the Jewish state's defiance of a Security Council call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, his spokeswoman said.

"The Secretary General spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert by phone this afternoon and expressed his disappointment that the violence is continuing on the ground in disregard of yesterday's Security Council resolution," Michele Montas said.

Late Thursday the 15-member UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza leading to a withdrawal of Israeli troops who have been pressing a two-week-old military offensive to stop rocket firing by Palestinian militants. The United States, Israel's main ally, abstained.

The Israeli military onslaught has left at least 800 Palestinians dead.

Both Israel and Hamas brushed off Resolution 1860 as Israel bombed and shelled Gaza for a 14th day Friday and Palestinian militants continued firing rockets.

Olmert was quoted as saying Friday that Israel would keep up its offensive in Gaza despite the council's truce call.

"Israel has never agreed for any outside influence to decide on its right to defend its citizens," a statement from Olmert's office quoted him as saying.

"The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) will continue to operate in order to defend the citizens of Israel and will carry out the task it was given for the operation."

Montas said Ban "is obviously concerned that the violence is continuing despite yesterday's resolution and hopes it will come to a stop very soon."

"The (Security) Council has clearly said what should happen and the parties should comply. There needs to be an immediate, durable and fully respected cease-fire leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza," the spokeswoman quoted the UN chief as saying.

"There should be an immediate halt of violence, including both the Israeli military operations and the firing of rockets by Palestinian militant groups," she added in a statement.

Montas further stated that Ban was continuing his contacts with political leaders in the region and the international community "in hopes of ensuring that Resolution 1860 is implemented without delay."

The UN chief urged all states, especially those in the region, to encourage progress in this regard.