Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations (UN) Riyad Mansour condemned Israel for the latest round of violence in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this aggression by Israel,” said Mansour following a UN Security Council meeting.
“We want the Security Council to shoulder its responsibility with regard to this situation,” he demanded though he admitted the body had been left paralysed.
Mansour expressed hope a 2014 ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt would hold adding, “it is not only a ceasefire, but also beginning the process of lifting the blockade [on Gaza].”
Reports indicated that Egypt was again involved in mediating a truce between Palestinian militant groups and Israel on Tuesday evening. Israel is yet to officially acknowledge the ceasefire.
Intense fighting began on Sunday, after a covert operation carried out by Israeli special forces inside Gaza was reportedly exposed, leaving an Israeli military officer and seven Palestinians dead, including a local Hamas commander.
The incident triggered what is believed to be the most intense fighting between the two sides since a brief war in 2014.