UN Middle East envoy voices concern over deteriorating situation in Gaza

Top UN envoy for the Middle East voiced deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip, a UN spokesperson said on Wednesday.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry said that, "During the past two months, we have seen more rockets being fired at Israel, border incidents, and Israeli retaliatory operations causing death or injury to civilians," UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky told reporters here at a daily news briefing.

"The United Nations condemns the rise in violence, and all parties must act in accordance with international law," Serry said after a visit to Gaza, where one-year cease-fire brokered by Egypt ending eight days of fierce fighting between Israel and Gaza's ruling Hamas in 2012 has started to falter, with renewed rocket attacks against Israel and Israeli reprisals.

The violence has stalled the construction of more than 20 vital UN projects for schools and housing in Gaza, and forced the closure of crossings with Israel, the envoy said.

Imports of construction materials has decreased dramatically consequently, leading to worsening social and economic condition, Serry said, lamenting the fact that the closure by Egypt of illegal tunnels beneath its border with Gaza has not been turned into an opportunity to increase the entry of such materials through legal crossings.

According to the UN, Israel in December agreed to resume the transfer of construction materials for UN projects in Gaza, where the world body is working on a "critical" 500-million-U.S.-dollar package to build schools, social housing, and water and sanitation facilities. But clashes with Israel have since increased and the work has been stalled since November.

Serry noted that imports of construction material for the private sector through legal crossings remain essential for Gaza's economy.

Hamas, which ousted Fatah from Gaza in fighting in 2007, does not recognize Israel's right to exist. Israel has severely restricted the entry of goods and materials into the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized control.