Washington, November 17, SPA -- Israel should end the blockade of Gaza, cease evictions and demolitions of Palestinian homes, and ensure that the rights of children are respected and that all allegations of torture and ill-treatment are promptly investigated and perpetrators prosecuted, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in an annual report released Monday. “In particular, the government of Israel should allow unimpeded access to Gaza for humanitarian aid and the non-humanitarian goods needed for the reconstruction of properties and infrastructure," Ban said in a report to the General Assembly on the human rights of the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. “ Israel should also address effectively and immediately the water, sanitation and environmental crisis in Gaza,” he said, citing the devastating damage stemming from Israel’s military action last winter " Ban also said that the reported ill-treatment of children includes beatings, being forced to stand or sit for long periods in extremely painful and harmful positions, in most cases with hands tied together and eyes blindfolded, threats of sexual abuse and hooding the head and face in a sack. --SPA 15:20 LOCAL TIME 12:20 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/719967