BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon was "shocked" on Wednesday after a bombing targeting a bus in Tel Aviv amid Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza.

"The Secretary-General was shocked at the news of the terror attack on a bus today in the centre of Tel Aviv. He condemns this attack in the strongest possible terms," a statement said.

"There are no circumstances that justify the targeting of civilians. The Secretary-General is saddened and expresses his sympathy to those injured in the blast."