“The Secretary General calls on all parties to immediately end the fighting in Gaza and Israel,” he said.

According to Dujarrik, the military escalation has already caused tremendous suffering and destruction and claimed the lives of dozens of civilians, including children.

“The fighting could provoke an imminent humanitarian and security crisis and further fuel extremism not only in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, but in the region as a whole,” the statement said.

As previously reported, the UN Security Council will hold talks on May 16 to discuss the situation around Israel and Palestine.