Kuwait urges UN to 'shoulder responsibility' regarding Palestinian-Israeli escalation

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - Kuwait on Saturday urged the UN Security Council to assume responsibility regarding the ongoing escalation in Gaza between Israel and Palestinian groups.

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry in a statement voiced deep concern at the escalation in Gaza and the Palestinian territories "as a result of the [Israeli] occupation's blatant violations."

It urged the international community to safeguard the Palestinian people and to "stop the provocative practices by the [Israeli] occupation."

The ministry also warned that the continuation of violence would "jeopardize the efforts aimed at establishing peace and attaining the two-state solution."

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, on Saturday said it launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood with rockets targeting enemy sites, airports, and military installations.

In response, the Israeli army initiated Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

At least 198 Palestinians have been killed in the air attacks, according to medical sources in Gaza, while Israeli Army Radio said more than 100 Israelis were killed in what has been described as "war" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hamas, the group running the blockaded Gaza Strip, said its operation was in response to desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.