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UN chief urges Israel, Palestinians to avoid ‘devastating conflict’
UNITED NATIONS, United States, July 22, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – UN Secretary-
General Antonio Guterres called Saturday on Israelis and Palestinians to
avoid “another devastating conflict” after resurgent violence claimed five
lives 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 war.
Four Palestinians and an Israeli soldier died in clashes Friday. More than
130 Palestinians have died so far during violent protests, and the Red Cross
says more than 13,000 have been wounded.
“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.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0858 hrs