New Delhi: In a rare move, the heads of 18 UN agencies and other humanitarian groups issued a joint statement Monday, urging an end to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The statement called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” to stop the bloodshed and suffering of civilians on both sides.
The statement, signed by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, a forum of UN and non-UN humanitarian partners, said: “We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now.”
The statement expressed concern for the suffering of civilians on both sides, saying that “rockets continue to traumatise families” in Israel, where some 1,400 people were killed and over 200 taken hostage, including children, by Hamas in a 7 October attack. Hamas is the militant group that controls Gaza.
“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 added.
“This is unacceptable,” the statement read, noting that 88 UNRWA workers have been killed since 7 October — “the highest number of United Nations fatalities ever recorded in a single conflict”.
The statement demanded that more aid — food, water, medicine and fuel — be allowed into Gaza, and that it reach the people in need, especially women and children, wherever they are.
The statement came as Israel intensified its assault on Gaza, rejecting calls for a ceasefire. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded the immediate release of more than 240 people held captive by Hamas.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military said it had surrounded Gaza City and split the strip into two, cutting off all communication. “Today, there is north Gaza and south Gaza,” Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters Sunday, describing it as a “significant stage” in the war against Hamas.
Also read: Gaza records highest ever UN fatalities in single conflict after 88 staffers killed amid ongoing war