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Photo: AFP
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
Photo: AFP

UN chief urges Israel, Palestinians to avoid 'devastating conflict'

UN Secretary-General Guterres says it's 'imperative all sides urgently step back from the brink of another devastating conflict,' calling Palestinians to cease 'rockets, incendiary kites and provocations,' adding 'Israel must exercise restraint to avoid further inflaming the situation.'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Saturday on Israelis and Palestinians to avoid "another devastating conflict" after resurgent violence claimed the lives of an IDF soldier, three Hamas fighters and another Palestinian on Friday.

 

 

"I am gravely concerned over the dangerous escalation of violence in Gaza and southern Israel," he said in a statement. "It is imperative that all sides urgently step back from the brink of another devastating conflict."

 

The recent violence in Gaza marks the most serious escalation between Israel and Hamas since the 2014 Operation Protective Edge.

 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres  (Photo: AFP)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Photo: AFP)

  

"I call on Hamas and other Palestinian militants to cease the launching of rockets and incendiary kites and provocations" along the fence separating Israel from Gaza, Guterres said.

 

"And Israel must exercise restraint to avoid further inflaming the situation."

 

He encouraged all parties to work with the UN to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, saying that it endangered lives on both sides while aggravating the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

 

Diplomats at the UN said there had not yet been a call for an urgent Security Council meeting to find ways to lower tensions. A regular monthly meeting on the Middle East is on the council's agenda for Tuesday.

 

A cease-fire with Israel, announced by Hamas, was generally being respected on Saturday. Egypt had brokered a cease-fire a week earlier.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.21.18, 22:34
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