Dozens of Palestinians staged a hostile protest as the convoy of visiting UN chief Ban Ki-moon crossed into Gaza from Israel. Many were relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and said they were angry at Mr Ban's refusal to meet them to discuss the prisoners' situation, BBC News informs.

Some threw shoes and some held signs reading "enough bias for Israel".

Mr Ban is visiting the region to try to kick-start stalled peace negotiations.

A month of "exploratory talks" ended last week without any breakthroughs.

Negotiations on a two-state solution stalled in late 2010 after a dispute over Jewish settlement construction.

Forty or 50 protesters gathered on the Gaza side of the Erez crossing as Mr Ban's armoured vehicle passed into Gaza, reports said.

Many were relatives of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, who are currently said to number about 4,000.

The protesters formed a human chain in an attempt to hold up his convoy, reported AP news agency, but Hamas security forces moved them away.

His convoy continued on to Khan Younis, where he is reportedly scheduled to visit a school and a Japanese-funded housing project.

On Wednesday Mr Ban urged Israeli leaders to offer "goodwill gestures" to Palestinians to provide fresh momentum for peace negotiations which stalled over the issue of Jewish settlement construction.