UN chief voices concern over flare-up in Gaza

UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is gravely concerned about the latest flare-up in Gaza and calls for "maximum restraint" from all sides, said his spokesman on Monday.

Israel on Monday launched strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza after a rocket from Gaza struck a home in central Israel earlier the same day that wounded several people.

"Today's firing of a rocket from Gaza toward Israel is a serious and unacceptable violation. We are also aware of the latest reports of firing on Gaza and are monitoring events," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman.

"We urge all sides to exercise maximum restraint," he told a daily briefing.

Guterres is set to meet his special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, on Tuesday, when Mladenov is in New York for a regular briefing to the Security Council.

"We continue to work with Egypt and all concerned parties to try to de-escalate the situation and again, encourage restraint. Further escalation is likely to make an already bad situation worse, in particular for civilians in and close to Gaza," said Dujarric. Enditem