UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says all efforts must be made to prevent a return to hostilities in Gaza, which would be catastrophic, Al Jazeera reports.
He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and find a way forward in the next phase.
“A permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages are essential to preventing escalation and averting more devastating consequences for civilians,” a statement released by Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary general, said.
“As Ramazan — a time of peace and reflection — begins, the secretary general calls on all sides to spare no efforts to end all violence. The United Nations stands ready to support all such endeavours.”
Guterres also called for an urgent de-escalation of the violence in the occupied West Bank.
