By Udesinanna Stephen
The United Nations (UN) has called on the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Militant Group Hamas for an immediate ceasefire to help the UN execute its humanitarian services in Gaza.
This was revealed in a media statement by the UN, noting, “We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now.”
The statement reads, “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.
“In Israel, some 1,400 people have been killed and thousands have been injured, according to the Israeli authorities. More than 200 people, including children, have been taken hostage. Rockets continue to traumatize families. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced. This is horrific.
“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.
“In Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health, nearly 9,500 people have been killed, including 3,900 children and over 2,400 women. More than 23,000 injured people require immediate treatment within overstretched hospitals.
“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.
“More than 100 attacks against health care have been reported. Scores of aid workers have been killed since October 7, including 88 UNRWA colleagues – the highest number of United Nations fatalities ever recorded in a single conflict.
“We renew our plea for the parties to respect all their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. We renew our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians held hostage.
“Civilians and the infrastructure they rely on – including hospitals, shelters and schools – must be protected. More aid – food, water, medicine and of course fuel – must enter Gaza safely, swiftly and at the scale needed, and must reach people in need, especially women and children, wherever they are.” The statement added.