Hibapress
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Saturday he was “gravely concerned” by the “dramatic escalation” of events in the Middle East over the past 48 hours.
“This cycle of violence must end now and all parties must step back from the brink,” the UN chief was quoted as saying in a press statement issued by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.
He urged the parties to recommit to fully implementing Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and “to return immediately to a cessation of hostilities”.
Antonio Guterres also reiterated his call for an “immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages”.
During a meeting on Friday of the UN Security Council devoted to the situation in the Middle East, the senior UN official said that it was necessary to “avoid a regional war at all costs”.
