UNITED NATIONS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov warned on Wednesday that sniper fire from Gaza into Israel poses a constant threat to peace.

"Sniper fire from Gaza has been a constant threat that has -- on at least four occasions over the past year -- pushed both sides closer to confrontation," he told the Security Council in a briefing.

The latest flare-up in early May followed a pattern that has been well established, he said. "The closer we get to consolidating an understanding that would relieve the pressure on people in Gaza and reduce the risk of rocket fire toward Israeli communities across the border, an incident like the last one would appear and undermine our careful and painstaking efforts."

On May 3, thousands of Palestinians participated in the weekly demonstrations at the Gaza border fence with Israel. Incendiary balloons were launched, stones and pipe bombs were thrown at Israeli soldiers, who responded with live fire, rubber bullets and tear gas, killing two Palestinians and injuring 49 others, he said.

Later that day, a sniper reportedly from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired across the fence, injuring two Israeli soldiers. In response to the sniper attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched several tank shells and the Israel Air Force targeted military sites in Gaza, killing two Palestinian militants and injuring two civilians, he said.

"That was the beginning of the most serious escalation since 2014."

After intense efforts by the United Nations and Egypt, as of the early morning of May 6, a cessation of hostilities was established, ending the escalation, he said via video teleconference from Jerusalem. Enditem

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