The UN Security Council expressed ‘serious concern at the escalation of violence’ in Gaza, Monday, and has called for an immediate ceasefire. Mass protests continue across the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, where Israeli forces took into custody at least eight people today.According to WAFA Palestinian News & Info Agency, the call came just as the UN Security Council convened in an emergency session, at the request of Jordan and Turkey, following a Sunday call made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who had earlier asked for the restoration of the 2012 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Rwandan UN Ambassador Eugene Gasana told journalists:
‘The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern over the growing number of casualties. The members of the Security Council called for an immediate cessation of hostilities,’ adding:
‘The members of the Security Council called for respect of international humanitarian law including protection of civilians.’
See related article: B’Tselem: Israel Failed to Provide Connection between Targets and Military Activity
Some 83,000 people have now sought refuge at UN-administered schools in the Gaza Strip.
Confrontations between protesters and Israeli forces continue to escalate in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, WAFA additionally reports, as Israeli forces abducted five Palestinians in the districts of Bethlehem and Jenin, on Monday.
Meanwhile, Israeli police arrested three in Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club (PPC).
WAFA notes that Israeli police have now arrested some 36 Palestinian Israeli citizens during confrontations inside legally recognized Israeli territory.
(PPC quoted a local activist, adding that some of the detainees were released while others’ detention was extended.)
See: Document On Palestinian Detainees; Facts and Statistics
This now brings the total number of Palestinians taken into Israeli custody, since the beginning of the massive arrest campaign on June 12th, to 1,220 detainees.
Related: Ministry Of Health: “More Than 1,000 Palestinians Kidnapped Since June 12′
