The UN chief is urging an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Gaza's Hamas rulers at the start of a UN General Assembly emergency meeting.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Thursday's in-person meeting in the assembly chamber that he and the UN Mideast envoy are engaged in "extensive diplomatic efforts" in the region, including with Egypt, Jordan and Qatar, to stop the fighting.
He called on all members of the international community "to do everything in their power to enable the parties to conflict to step back from the brink."
The UN chief also called on Israel and Hamas "to allow for mediation efforts to intensify in order to bring the fighting to an end."