UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that Gaza is close to the brink of war and expressing shock over the number of Gazans killed and wounded by Israeli live fire during protests, in a report obtained by AFP on Monday.
Guterres told the Security Council that he "unequivocally condemns the steps by all parties that have brought us to this dangerous and fragile place" in the Israeli-Palestinian Arab conflict.
The report was sent to the council last week ahead of a meeting on Tuesday on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.
Referring to recent violence in Gaza, Guterres said, according to AFP, "It is and should be a warning to all how close to the brink of war the situation is.”
"I am shocked by the number of deaths and injuries of Palestinians resulting from the use of live fire by Israel Defense Forces" since protests began on March 30, he added.
Israel has a responsibility to "exercise maximum restraint" and protect civilians in line with international humanitarian law, the UN chief wrote.
"The killing of children, as well as of clearly identified journalists and medical staffers by security forces during a demonstration are particularly unacceptable," he added.
Guterres renewed his call for an independent investigation of the shooting deaths in Gaza. READ MORE
