UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres insists that minors must be given special protection against any form of violence, stood out his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, on Wednesday.

The executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Henrietta Fore noted that at least 14 children in Palestinian territory and one in Israel have been killed since Monday.

Another 95 children in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and three on Israeli soil were injured in the past five days, she added.

The situation is at a dangerous tipping point, Fore highlighted, with the growing level of violence and its devastating impact on children.

In any war, all children suffer first and most, said the UNICEF’s executive director and called on the sides to the conflict to end the violence, diffuse tensions and protect civilians.

Meanwhile, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, reported that the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate into ‘the most serious escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in years.’

rly/omr/ga/ifb