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Ammon News - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the deadly violence in the Palestinian territories may turn to an uncontainable crisis in the Middle East region.

Addressing a Security Council meeting dubbed "The Situation in the Middle East, Including the Palestinian Question," on Sunday, Guterres added that, "The current hostilities are utterly appalling. This latest round of violence only perpetuates the cycles of death, destruction and despair, and pushes farther to the horizon any hopes of coexistence and peace."

He said that, "I am also deeply concerned by violent clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians across the occupied West Bank, including east Jerusalem, where some Palestinian families are under threat of eviction."

Commenting on the situation inside Israel, Guterres noted, "Israel, violence by vigilante-style groups and mobs has added a further horrendous dimension to an already deteriorating crisis. Leaders on all sides have a responsibility to curb inflammatory rhetoric and calm the rising tensions."

"The status quo at the holy sites must be upheld and respected," Guterres stressed.