Israel Rejects UN Proposal For De-Escalation: Source

Israel has rejected a UN proposal for an "immediate" cease-fire, an informed Palestinian source revealed early Wednesday.

The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Anadolu Agency that the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland submitted to Israel and Hamas a proposal for an "immediate" cease-fire, but Tel Aviv rejected it.

Regarding Hamas's position on the proposal, the source said that the movement did not respond to the proposal, due to the Israeli rejection.

The source added that Wennesland demanded the two parties to immediately cease-fire, otherwise matters will go "towards a comprehensive war."

Israeli violence in the city of Jerusalem caused the outbreak of the latest offensive on Gaza Strip which began Monday evening.

The death toll of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes has risen to 35, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. At least 220 others have been injured.

Five Israelis have also been killed and 45 others injured in Hamas rocket attacks.

Tensions have been running high since last week after an Israeli court ordered the evictions of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat -