Israel-Gaza conflict: UN urges restraint after violence escalates between warring factions

Many Israelis living on the border with Gaza say they feel abandoned

The United Nations has called for urgent restraint in Gaza and Israel, warning an escalation of violence between warring factions could have “catastrophic consequences”.

The caution by Nickolay Mladenov, the UN’s envoy for the Middle East, came after more than 24 hours of cross-border fire, sparked by a rocket attack from Gaza on a family home in central Israel which injured at least six people including a baby. No fatalities were reported by either side.

Israel said overnight it had destroyed multiple positions controlled by Hamas, the militant group that runs the Strip, including the offices of Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh. At least 80 rockets, meanwhile, were fired from Gaza into Israel.

Mr Mladenov told the Security Council that a “fragile calm” had returned to the region on Tuesday afternoon following intense efforts by Egypt, which helped broker the fragile truce, and the UN.

However, the situation remained “extremely tense”.

“I am concerned that we may once again be facing another very dangerous escalation of violence in Gaza with potentially catastrophic consequences,” he said.

“The UN has been working intensely with Egypt and all concerned to ensure that the situation does not spiral out of control.”

“The last two days have shown how precariously close we are to the brink of war once again,” he added.

There was confusion over whether a long-term ceasefire had actually been reached.

Hamas had first announced the Cairo-brokered truce late on Monday, but a furious exchange of fire continued throughout the night.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who cut short a four-day trip to the US due to the escalation, warned on Tuesday he was ready to order further action against Gaza.

His acting foreign minister, Israeli Katz, meanwhile, told Reshet Bet radio there was no ceasefire in place.

Security officials in the south of the country – including police – told The Independent additional forces had been deployed in readiness for a longer military operation. Reservists had also been called up.

Paramedics said they were on “high alert”.

The flareup comes just two weeks ahead of an Israeli general election.

Mr Netanyhau hopes to beat a centrist alliance spearheaded by Benny Gantz, the country’s former army chief, and secure a fourth consecutive term in office, making him Israel’s longest serving premier.

He had been set to sweep the polls after celebrating a surprise decision this week by president Donald Trump to recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria in the 1967 Six Day War.

Mr Trump signed the controversial declaration on Monday, despite the fact the UN and the European Union believe Israel’s de facto annexation of the Syrian territory to be illegal.

But the boost to Mr Netanyahu’s popularity was shortlived as he faced mounting calls for a longer military operation in the besieged Strip after the rocket fire.

In the southern Israeli border town of Sderot, which was pounded by rockets during the flare up, Israeli residents announced protests on Tuesday night as they demanded the government take action.

The southern regions have in the past been large support bases for Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party.

Although not all protesters demanded a war with Gaza, many civilians living near to the tiny enclave told The Independent they felt abandoned by Israel, which did not have a plan.

“Israel does not have a policy vis-a-vis Gaza. We are totally reactionary instead of being proactive. For years [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar has called the shots like he is my prime minister,” said Adele Raemer, who lives in Nirim, just a couple of miles from the fences, and keeps in touch with Gazans living on the other side of the border.

She had spent the last few nights sleeping in her bomb shelter from the rocket fire and “night disturbances”: protests in Gaza during which some Palestinians have lobbed explosives towards Israel.

Ms Raemer argued the solution was not a military but a political one.

“A rehabilitated Gaza is a safer western Negev. When Gazans can build schools, hospitals and take care of their sewage system, they won’t use marches, explosives and rockets. People need to have a horizon of hope,” she said.

Her comments echoed protesters in Sderot.

“We demand the government of Israel recognise that we are Israeli citizens and we have human rights for security and safety like the rest of the country,” said Sharon Shelly, 45, who was preparing to attend the evening rallies.

“The government has no strategy and keeps us living us from one war to another. We want a permanent solution, we don’t know if that is fighting Hamas and replacing them, or making an agreement.

“Either way the government has absolutely failed us. Many people are fed up with Netanyahu and don’t believe him,” she added.

A rehabilitated Gaza is a safer western Negev.  When Gazans can build schools, hospitals, and take care of their sewage system, they won’t use marches, explosives and rockets

Adele Raemer, in Nirim, Israel

Meanwhile, in Gaza, civilians said they would not be able to survive another war and feared that any escalation would be tied to the upcoming Israeli elections as all sides jostled for power.

“It’s a disastrous time, because of the economic crisis and humanitarian catastrophe. People literally cannot feed their families at the moment. How can we survive a war?” asked Hamdosh Aldayhem, 38, from north Gaza.

Mohamed Baba, 26, also from the north, said they had had sleepless night as the airstrikes rocked their neighbourhoods.

“We do not want our blood to be the fuel for the coming Israeli election campaigns,” he added.