UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon commented Tuesday on the recent wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, saying it was part of "human nature" to react to an occupation.

Addressing the UN Security Council's periodic Middle East debate, Ban condemned rocket fire from militant groups in Gaza into Israel and called for an end to incitement, but said that "As oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation."

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Ban urged both sides to act now "to prevent the two-state solution from slipping away forever," adding that progress toward peace between requires that Israel freeze its settlement-building, which he called "an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community."

Dozens of people on both sides have died in four months of violence, which Israel blames on Palestinian incitement. Palestinians say the attacks stem from frustration at nearly five decades of Israeli military rule.

Open gallery view Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon holds a doll he said was part of a shipment recently stopped of "thousands of dolls dressed as terrorists." United Nations Security Council meeting. January 26, 2016 Credit: Reuters

Israel's UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, did not address settlement-building. He instead showed reporters what he called "terror dolls" that he said are used to teach hatred to Palestinian children.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour urged the council to act.