UN envoy concerned about facing another dangerous escalation in Gaza

UNITED NATIONS, march 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said on Tuesday he is concerned that "we may once again be facing another dangerous escalation of violence in Gaza with potentially catastrophic consequences."

Addressing a UN Security CoUNcil meeting on the Middle East situation, Mladenov said a rocket was laUNched from the Gaza Strip on march 25, directly hitting a house in central Israel. Seven family members were injured, including three children.

Over the following 24 hours, at least 103 rockets and mortars were fired from Gaza towards Israel, some of which were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, while others caused material damage to a house in Sderot or hit UNinhabited areas, he said.

The Israeli Air Force conducted 42 strikes on various locations in Gaza, while some 16 shells were fired by the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli navy towards Gaza. According to local sources, seven Palestinians were injured as a result of the strikes. Several buildings were destroyed, including Hamas offices and security buildings, Mladenov added.

"The last two days have shown us how precipitously close we are to the brink of war," said Mladenov.

He asked the members of the Security CoUNcil to call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint as the situation remains very tense.