Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    UNITED NATIONS, June 5 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned on Thursday ongoing rocket and mortar attacks by militants inside the Gaza Strip against southern Israeli civilian targets and crossing points that have led to the death of an Israeli civilian and injuries to four others.

    In the statement issued by his spokesperson, Ban also condemned Israeli Air Force (IAF) fire which caused the death of a Palestinian child and the injuries to its mother.

    "While recognizing Israel's right to self-defense, the secretary-general calls upon Israel to exercise maximum restraint, and reminds the IAF and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of their responsibility to protect civilians under international humanitarian law during military operations," it said.

    Ban called on Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza to stop the rocket and mortar attacks that led to Thursday's death.

    "He also reminds them that these actions, as well as attacks on crossings, have detrimental implications for the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza," the statement added.