UNITED NATIONS, April 11 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday voiced grave concern over the recent escalation in Palestinian-Israeli tensions, said his spokesman.
"The secretary-general is following with deep concern the escalating violence in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel. He is appalled by the increasingly high number of casualties, including women and children," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman.
Guterres reiterated that children must never be the target of violence or put in harm's way. The Israel Defence Forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only as a last resort when it is strictly unavoidable in order to protect life, said the spokesman.
The United Nations will continue to work with all sides to de-escalate the situation, said Dujarric.
