BUDAPEST, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto on Monday called for the international community to prevent the Gaza crisis from escalating into an interstate war during a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz.

 

"The Middle East fundamentally determines the global security situation, and if there is a conflict or a security crisis in the Middle East, it always poses a threat to global security. The current Gaza crisis can easily become a serious global security threat," Szijjarto said, adding that if another country becomes involved in this conflict, it could easily turn into a severe war that extends beyond the next country's borders.

 

Israel has launched a massive offensive against Gaza-ruling Hamas in retaliation for a Hamas surprise attack on southern Israeli towns on Oct. 7 last year, during which about 1,200 Israelis were killed and over 200 were taken as hostages.

 

The eight-month-long Israeli offensive has left more than 37,000 Palestinians killed and 85,000 others injured, according to the Gaza health authorities. The Israeli attacks also reduced large swaths of the enclave to ruins and caused a devastating humanitarian crisis in the area.