UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has told a Security Council session on the Israeli-Palestinian violence this week that the "fighting must stop - it must stop immediately."

He called the violence that has killed nearly 200 people over the past week "utterly appalling."

"It has the potential to unleash an uncontainable security and humanitarian crisis and to further foster extremism, not only in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, but in the region as a whole," he said.

Around 40 Palestinians are known to have been killed on Sunday, the worst death toll since the unrest broke out.

"This senseless cycle of bloodshed, terror and destruction must stop immediately," Guterres said.

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He said the Israeli airstrike on Saturday, which destroyed the building in Gaza housing the international media outlets Al-Jazeera and the Associated Press, was "extremely concerning."

"Rockets and mortars on one side and aerial and artillery bombardments on the other must stop. I appeal to all parties to heed this call," Guterres said.

The UN Security Council session was chaired by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

He urged an immediate ceasefire and called for the Security Council to take "strong actions," including reiterating support for a two-state solution.

He said that China would welcome hosting talks between Israeli and Palestinian representatives.

Wang added: "Regrettably, simply because of the obstruction of one country, the Security Council hasn't been able to speak with one voice. We call upon the United States to shoulder its due responsibilities."

The U.S., an ally of Israel, delayed the Security Council session from last week but says it has been working to end the violence. 

"The United States has been working tirelessly through diplomatic channels to try to bring an end to this conflict," the U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said.

"Because we believe Israelis and Palestinians equally have a right to live in safety and security."

Cover photo credit:  Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, VCG