The heads of all major UN agencies have issued a joint statement calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” saying “enough is enough”.
“For almost a month, the world has been watching the unfolding situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory in shock and horror at the spiralling numbers of lives lost and torn apart,” the UN bosses say.
The heads of organisation including UNICEF, the WHO, the World Food Programme – as well as charities such as Save the Children – described the “horrific” loss of life on both sides, and demand the unconditional release of hostages taken by Hamas during its 7 October attacks.
The statement continues:
“However, the horrific killings of even more civilians in Gaza is an outrage, as is cutting off 2.2 million Palestinians from food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel.”
The statement adds that 88 people working for UNRWA, the agency focussed on Palestinian refugees, had been killed since 7 October, the highest number of UN fatalities “ever recorded in a single conflict”.
Israel says it’s launched a significant attack in the north of Gaza – there were reports on Sunday night of huge explosions and intense airstrikes. The country’s military has said this:
- IDF forces have “surrounded” Gaza City
- Troops have reached the coastline, effectively dividing the Strip into “Gaza North and Gaza South”
- Israel is still “allowing a corridor” for the residents of the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City to go south
- Israel “will continue to attack strongly and continue to intensify our ground operation in the northern Gaza Strip and greater Gaza City”
The Hamas-run health ministry says almost 10,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel started its campaign there, in response to the Hamas attacks of 7 October.