"I urge Israel, Palestine and all others with influence to restore the promise and viability of the two-State solution premised on two States living side by side in peace, harmony and within secure and recognized borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both," Guterres said in a statement on Friday.
Tensions between the Israelis and the Palestinians near the Gaza border have been mounting since late March. The Palestinians had fired almost 500 missiles and mortar shells at southern Israel, while the Israelis conducted strikes on over 150 buildings and facilities in the Gaza Strip.
Last week, at least 40 Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli troops near the Gaza Strip border. Earlier on Friday, a spokesman for the Gaza Health Ministry Ashraf Qidra told Sputnik that at least 12 Palestinians were injured in clashes with Israeli troops near the Gaza Strip border.
Despite objections from the United Nations, the Israeli government continues to build settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.