The cautionary remark, made at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, came amid widespread fear of a wider regional conflict involving neighboring countries, and growing calls for Israel to de-escalate its military activities.

Over 100 days since the crisis in Gaza sparked, divisions between the international community on the matter continue to deepen, increasingly putting the Middle East on edge. Fire exchanges between the region’s pro-Palestine rebel groups and Israel and its allies have thickened tensions in the Red Sea, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, further destabilizing the region amid sluggish diplomatic progress.

“The threat of a full-blown war in the Middle East is a real and present danger in this context,” Retno said, demanding the UNSC to penalize Israel’s continued aggression.

Reiterating Indonesia’s call for a permanent cease-fire, Retno added that “immediate full membership in the UN” must be granted to Palestine to start a fair, balanced peace process, as well as a stop to the flow of arms into Israel.

Israel has been procuring most of its weapons from the United States, but other countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada and Germany have also been exporting their arms to Tel Aviv.

“Every weapon sent to Israel can be used to kill innocent civilians,” Retno said.

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