ambulance-gaza
Nearly a month into Gaza’s conflict, UN agency chiefs declared “enough is enough” and called for a humanitarian ceasefire on Monday. Meanwhile, the enclave’s health authorities reported that scores more people had died in Israeli fighter aircraft and troop raids during the night.
Israel has rejected growing international calls for a ceasefire, arguing that the release of captives abducted by Hamas militants during their October 7 rampage in southern Israel should come first.
“An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and places of worship. This is unacceptable,” the UN chiefs said in a joint statement.
“We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now.”
The 18 signatories include the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, the head of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and UN aid chief Martin Griffiths.
A Reuters journalist in the Gaza Strip described the overnight bombardment from the air, ground and sea as one of the most intense since Israel launched its offensive.
Health officials in Hamas-controlled Gaza said Monday at least 10,022 Palestinians, including 4,104 children, have been killed in the war since Hamas killed 1,400 people and seized more than 240 hostages on October 7.