The Egyptian foreign ministry, which helped broker the six-month-long ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, called on both sides Friday not to escalate the situation in the territory, reported dpa.
Hossam Zaki, a spokesman for the Egyptian foreign ministry, called on Israel and the Palestinian factions "to commit to non-escalation, so that both sides would not slip into an unwanted confrontation that would have a negative impact on civilians."
The militant Islamist movement Hamas formally announced on Friday that the ceasefire with Israel would not be renewed, and blamed Tel Aviv for the renewal of violence.
Zaki called on Israel to open border crossings into Gaza, and to show "more flexibility in providing Gaza with its basic needs."