UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate end to the ongoing fighting between the Palestinians and Israelis in the Gaza Strip, the worst since 2014.
Guterres also warned that the fighting has the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis and to further foster extremism, potentially creating a new locus of dangerous instability.
"Fighting must stop. It must stop right away. Rockets and mortars on one side and aerial and artillery bombardments on the other must stop.I am appalled by the increasingly large numbers of Palestinian civilian casualties, including many women and children, from Israeli strikes in Gaza. I also deplore Israeli fatalities from rockets launched from Gaza," he said.
The UN remains deeply committed to working with Palestinians and Israelis and with international and regional partners, including the Middle East Quartet, to realise a lasting and just peace, he said, calling on the parties to allow mediation efforts to intensify and succeed.
"The only way forward is to return to negotiations with the goal of a two-state solution, with two states living side-by-side in peace, security and mutual recognition, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states, based on relevant UN resolutions, international law and prior agreements," Guterres added.
Tensions between Israel and the Islamic Hamas movement have continued unabated in the Gaza Strip with no sign of any ceasefire between the two sides to end the violence.
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, about 145 Palestinians have been killed and 1,100 injured since fighting escalated on May 10.
Italy reopens to international tourism, restrictions relaxes
Indian Covid-19 variant can spread like wildfire among non-vaccinated people
Andrea Meza From Mexico Crowned Miss Universe 2021