Ammon News - UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, following the Israeli occupation's announcement of the first steps toward an operation aimed at controlling Gaza City.

Guterres' remarks came during the African Development Conference held in Japan, where he stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to avoid the death and destruction resulting from any military operation targeting Gaza City.

He also called on Israel to reverse its decision to expand the construction of an "illegal" coloniel in the West Bank.