The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, today considered the loss of civilian lives in the Gaza Strip “unacceptable” and urged an immediate end to the Israeli-Palestinian fighting, a situation that he is following with “deep concern”.
“The Secretary-General follows with deep concern the latest security developments in Gaza and the continued escalation and risk of further loss of life. The Secretary-General condemns the loss of civilian life, including children and women, which he considers unacceptable and must cease immediately,” said Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for Guterres, in a statement.
The United Nations leader urged Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the proportionate use of force and taking all precautions to spare civilians and civilian property in the conduct of military operations.
Guterres also condemned the indiscriminate launching of rockets from Gaza against Israel, which “violates international humanitarian law and endangers Palestinian and Israeli civilians”.
“The Secretary-General urges all parties concerned to exercise the utmost restraint and work towards an immediate cessation of hostilities. It reiterates its commitment to support Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict on the basis of relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements,” concluded Haq.
Fighting in the Gaza Strip continued today after an Egyptian-mediated failed ceasefire attempt between Israel and Palestinian armed factions, although an Egyptian state television station did announce an agreement.
After reports of successful ceasefire negotiations circulated, Palestinian sources quoted by Al-Jazeera television station and Israeli daily Haaretz indicated that the talks failed because Israel refused to end targeted killings.
A new Israeli air attack on that Palestinian territory today caused seven more deaths, two of them children, and more than 20 wounded among the civilian population.
The new Israeli bombing occurred after Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip today launched more than 270 rockets against Israel, according to a spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The attack is, so far, the biggest this year and follows more than 24 hours of heightened tensions in the area, after Israel on Tuesday shot down three senior leaders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (JIP) group in Gaza.
