‘No justification’ for attacks against civilians in Gaza

Following the targeted killing of a Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader inside Gaza on Tuesday, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process has expressed his growing concern over increasing rocket fire across the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

“I am very concerned about the ongoing and serious escalation between Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Israel”, Nickolay Mladenov said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to local reports, the attack not only killed the militant leader, but his wife and others.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry in the Gaza enclave, which is controlled by militant group Hamas, reported on Wednesday that retaliatory airstrikes by Israel on Wednesday had killed 13 Palestinians, including three children, bringing the death toll to 23 since Tuesday.

‘Indiscriminate’ rocket and mortar fire must stop

“The indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars against population centres is absolutely unacceptable and must stop immediately”, stressed the UN Special Coordinator. “There can be no justification for any attacks against civilians.”

Arguing that the continuing escalation is “very dangerous”, Mr. Mladenov maintained that it is “yet another attempt to undermine the efforts to improve the dire socio-economic conditions in Gaza and "another devastating conflict” must be prevented.

“The UN is working to urgently de-escalate the situation”, he concluded.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that more than 100 rockets had been fired into Israel during the two days of fighting, bringing the total to around 300, and news reports said around 50 people had been treated for injuries.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad reportedly confirmed that those killed in Gaza included members of its military wing.

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