In view of the escalation in the Middle East conflict, the Palestinian leadership has criticized the Arab states, which have normalized their relations with Israel.

The normalization of relations without peace and without an end to the Israeli occupation amounts to "supporting the apartheid regime and participating in its crimes," said the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Rijad al-Maliki, at a crisis meeting of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation in Riyadh on Sunday.

At the urging of then American President Donald Trump, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco agreed with Israel to normalize their relations last year.

The Palestinians had condemned the agreements as a "betrayal" of the Palestinian cause.

Until last year, Egypt and Jordan were the only Arab states with ties to Israel.

Saudi Foreign Minister calls for peace

In a joint statement, the countries of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation condemned “the barbaric attacks by Israel against the Palestinian people, their land and their holy places”.

They called for an end to all violence, which not only affects the civilian population, but also risks destabilizing the entire region.

The Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, called on the international community to work urgently to end the Israeli military operation.

Peace talks with the aim of a two-state solution would have to be resumed.

“Preserving Jerusalem is a responsibility of all of us,” he said.

Saudi Arabia has not officially normalized its relations with Israel, but it maintains secret ties with the country.

UN General Secretary António Guterres has meanwhile insisted on an end to the increasingly escalating violence in the Middle East.

"This senseless cycle of bloodshed, terror and destruction must stop immediately," said Guterres on Sunday at the beginning of the third session of the UN Security Council within a week.

America prevented a common position

“I am appalled by the increasing numbers of Palestinian civilians, including many women and children, who were killed in Gaza by Israeli air strikes.

I also regret Israel's deaths from rockets fired from Gaza, ”the UN chairman continued.

The clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are also worrying.

Guterres also mentioned the possible eviction of some Palestinian families from their homes, which is considered one of the triggers of the current crisis.

The spiral of violence could have devastating consequences for the entire region.

The only way to find a solution to the conflict would be through negotiations with the aim of a two-state solution.

The meeting of the Security Council on Sunday in New York was eagerly awaited - many members of the 15-state, most powerful UN body announced speeches from their foreign ministers.

The United States - Israel's most important ally - had been isolated in the Council on the Middle East in the days before and prevented a joint statement.

However, the American special envoy Hady Amr is currently trying to find a diplomatic solution in the region.

Most intense bombardment in history

At least 40 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza on Sunday.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, it was the highest number of victims within a day to date.

Eight children were killed in attacks on a neighborhood in Gaza City alone.

A total of 188 people have been killed in the coastal strip since the violence flared up on Monday, including 55 children.

1,230 more Palestinians were injured.

According to its own statements, the Israeli army attacked 90 targets of the Islamist Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours.

It was a reaction to the massive rocket fire by militant Palestinians: Since the beginning of the week, they have fired around 3,000 rockets in the direction of Israel.

According to an Israeli general, it is the most intense shelling in the country's history.

However, numerous projectiles were intercepted by the Israeli defense system.

Ten Israelis have died in the shelling since Monday, including a soldier and a child.

282 people were injured.