The escalating violence in Gaza and Israel is of great concern, Swedish Foreign Minister said. He fears further escalation and a violent turn.

“We need to appeal to both sides to cease all attacks both against and from Gaza as soon as possible,” Carl Bildt told Radio Sweden.

“Conflicts in these parts of the world have a tendency to spin out of control,” he said referring to the unstable situation in the wider region.

Israeli tanks and troops moved toward the Gaza Strip on Thursday night in apparent preparation for a possible invasion of the crowded seaside enclave after a day of violence that included two militant rocket strikes on the southern suburbs of Tel Aviv, raising the likelihood that the region was on the brink of all-out war.