UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed his concern at the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

    "He has underscored the importance of having Israel urgently permit the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of Gaza, and regrets that his calls have not yet been heeded," Ban's press office said in a statement.

    The secretary-general again condemned rocket and other attacks by Palestinian militants against Israeli civilian targets, calling for an end to such attacks, and urging full respect by all parties for the calm that has been in effect since June 19, 2008.

    Earlier in the day, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes called for the parties to refrain from violence and to allow for the sustained and immediate opening of the border crossings in Gaza.

    "Measures which increase the hardship and suffering of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip as a whole are unacceptable and must cease immediately," Holmes stated.