Dozens of Palestinian protesters hurled shoes, sticks and stones at the convoy of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as it entered the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

Around 40 protesters briefly prevented Mr. Ban's armored vehicle from entering Gaza as it crossed from southern Israel.

Most of the protesters were relatives of Palestinians who are held in Israeli prisons. They held signs accusing the U.N. of bias towards Israel and decrying what they say is the U.N.'s refusal to meet with Palestinian prisoner groups.

No one was injured, and the convoy was able to drive away after security forces removed the protesters.

The U.N. chief is in the Palestinian territory to try to restart stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Peace talks broke down in September 2010 over a dispute about Israeli settlement construction on occupied land.