Nov. 6, 2023:
UN agency heads, including UNICEF and UN Women agencies have expressed ‘shock and horror’ at the mounting death toll from the conflict between Israel and Palestine and in a joint plea they have asked for immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The heads of 18 United Nations organisations have expressed their “shock and horror” at the increasing number of people killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict and demanded an immediate ceasefire.
“We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now,” the UN heads said in a rare joint statement on Sunday.
“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 leaders said.
“We renew our plea for the parties to respect all their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law,” they further said.
“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 killing 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 read.
Gaza, meanwhile, fell under its third total communications blackout since the Israeli offensive in the Hamas-controlled territory after Oct. 7 attacks. Palestinian communications company Paltel announced that all of its “communication and internet services” were down once again. Internet access advocacy group NetBlocks.org confirmed that communications were curtailed across the besieged enclave,” reported the Associated Press.
