The Palestinians called on the U.N. Security Council Monday to take urgent action to stop what it called an escalating military campaign by Israeli forces that has led to a dramatic increase in Palestinian casualties in recent days.
The Palestinian U.N. observor, Riyad Mansour, said in a letter to the council that at least 17 Palestinians have been killed since Friday and scores more wounded in a barrage of military attacks and ‘extrajudicial executions.’
Mansour told reporters that Arab nations would meet to decide what action its members want the Security Council to take. The options range from holding an open meeting on the latest upsurge in violence, to adopting a council statement or a resolution.
‘The bottom line (is) the Security Council has to take steps and measures in order to bring pressure on Israel to stop its aggression against the Palestinian people,’ Mansour told reporters after delivering the letter to the current council president, China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya.
Wang said later that he circulated the letter to council members and so far no action has been requested.
Violence between Israel and the Palestinians has escalated in recent days with militants in northern Gaza launching homemade rockets into Israel and the Israeli army responding by pounding suspected launch sites with artillery. Israel has also carried out a wave of airstrikes against militants in Gaza in recent days.