The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, made a short visit to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
He arrived in the enclave through the Erez crossing in light of the escalating tension in the occupied West Bank.
According to Palestinian sources, Wennesland met with officials from the Palestinian factions and discussed with them the political situation and means to advance truce efforts.
Discussions focused on the tension in Jenin, Nablus and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He affirmed that the UN is doing its best to advance calm in the West Bank and improve living standards, adding that it is also pressuring Israel to reduce the escalation.
The UN envoy also called for maintaining calm in the Gaza Strip.
He also held talks with leaders of local and international organizations on Gaza’s needs and ways to support economic projects.
“It is crucial to reduce tensions immediately to open the space for crucial initiatives aimed at establishing a viable political horizon,” the UN official said in a statement on Saturday.
He said that the mounting violence in the West Bank is fueling a climate of “fear, hatred and anger.”
“The fragility of the situation underscores the urgency of changing the dynamics on the ground, while addressing the underlying security and political issues that are fueling the current instability,” Wennesland stressed.
