“Escalation is not the answer” to Israel’s “legitimate security concerns”, the UN secretary-general stressed today, denouncing the “excessive use of force” during the military operation in the occupied West Bank this week.

“I understand Israel’s legitimate security concerns. But escalation is not the answer. This fuels radicalization and leads to an escalating cycle of violence and bloodshed,” Antonio Guterres told reporters, referring to the operation earlier this month. per week in Jenin.

“Restoring the Palestinian people’s hope in a serious political process, leading to a two-state solution and the end of the occupation, is Israel’s essential contribution to its own security,” he added.

“Israel’s airstrikes and ground operations in an overcrowded refugee camp represented the worst violence in the West Bank in years, with serious consequences for civilians,” he said, saying the airstrikes “contradict the enforcement operations of law”.

The Israeli army announced on Wednesday the end of its military operation in the occupied West Bank.

The operation, which began on Monday, involved hundreds of soldiers as well as manned aircraft and army bulldozers in the city of Jenin and the nearby refugee camp, a stronghold of Palestinian armed groups.

“Obviously, in this situation, there was an excessive use of force by the Israeli forces,” Antonio Guterres insisted. “I once again call on Israel to respect its obligations under international law, including the duty of restraint and the proportionate use of force,” he added.

“I also remind Israel, as the occupying power, of its responsibility to ensure that the civilian population is protected from all acts of violence.”