All parties to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict must avoid any provocations and act responsibly, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Tor Wennesland said on Monday, noting the fragility of the truce and rising tensions in the region.
"Tensions are rising again in Jerusalem, this at a very fragile and sensitive time for politics and security, when the UN and Egypt are actively working to strengthen the truce. I call on all parties involved to act responsibly and avoid any provocation that could lead to a new round of confrontation," he wrote on Twitter.
On the night of May 21, a ceasefire had come into effect between Israel and Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip, who had been exchanging strikes for 11 days. During that time, some 1,800 housing units in the coastal enclave were completely destroyed and 16,800 partially damaged. In the center of the Gaza Strip, five large residential high-rises and 74 government offices and state institutions were razed to the ground throughout the Strip. It would cost at least $350 million to rebuild the housing stock and infrastructure. 13 people were killed on the Israeli side and more than 270 civilians, including children and women, were killed in Gaza.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS