New York  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned Thursday both Israel and Hamas militants for military activities that have caused civilian deaths, including that of a 4-year-old Palestinian girl killed by an Israeli airstrike on Thursday.

He condemned Gaza-based Hamas for mortar and rocket attacks against Israel, killing one Israeli and injured several others.

He condemned the Israeli Air Force for the death of the Palestinian girl and wounding her mother.

Ban said the Hamas attacks on crossing points had "detrimental implications for the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza."

He recognized Israel's right to self-defense, but urged it to exercise maximum restraint and carry out the responsibility to protect civilians in war zones. (dpa)