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This handout picture released by the Israeli army on 5 November 2023, shows Israeli tanks and soldiers stationed at a location in the northern Gaza Strip as battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement continue.
The
heads of all major UN agencies issued a rare joint statement Sunday expressing
outrage at the civilian death toll in Gaza and calling for an “immediate
humanitarian ceasefire” in the war between Israel and Hamas.
The UN chiefs said:
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
heads of 18 organizations including UNICEF, the World Food Program and the
World Health Organization described the horrific toll on both sides since the 7
October Hamas cross-border attack from Gaza into Israel, which left about 1 400
people dead, mainly civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel
has retaliated with relentless air and artillery strikes that have killed at
least 9 770 people, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health
ministry in Gaza.
In
Gaza, the UN statement said, “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.”
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It
called on Hamas to release the more than 240 hostages it took in its attack,
and urged both sides to respect their obligations under international law as
the war rages on.
The
UN leaders said more food, water, medicine and fuel must be allowed into Gaza
to help its besieged population as Israel attacks with the stated goal of
destroying Hamas.
“We
need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough.
This must stop now,” the statement said.
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