Ramallah, February 13 (RHC)-- A senior UN official has expressed concern over heigthened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians and the posibility of a new devastating conflict in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

"Right now, things are not going well, and we're very concerned about the possibility of a further conflict," James Rawley, the United Nations’ humanitarian chief for the Palestinian territories, said at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Thursday.

Rawley also urged an additional USD 705 million in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian lands, particularly Gaza, which was devastated by an Israeli military offensive last year.

The remarks came less than a week after UN chief, Ban Ki-moon, and head of Arab League, Nabil el-Arabi, issued a joint statement, expressing regret about scarce financial resources required for the rebuilding of the war-torn Gaza.