The heads of six UN agencies asked on Monday (7) an urgent renewal of the ceasefire in Gaza, warning of hunger and shortage of help since Israel resumed the offensive in the territory.
No new humanitarian supply has entered the Palestinian enclave since Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks on March 2, when negotiations on the next stage of a truce were paralyzed. Israel resumed the attack on March 18.
“More than 2.1 million people have been arrested, bombarded and hungry again, while at the time of passage, food supplies, medicines, fuel and shelters are accumulating,” said a joint statement by the heads of six UN agencies, including the UN Assistance Coordination Agency (OCHA) and the World Food Program.
At least 1,000 children were killed or injured during the first week after the fighters resumed, the statement added, describing the number of deaths that week as the highest for children in one year.
“We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that demonstrates a total disrespect for human life … We appeal to world leaders to act in a firm, urgent and decisive way – to ensure that the basic principles of international humanitarian law are respected,” the statement says.
Israel denies having violated the humanitarian law in Gaza and blames Hamas’ combatants for the damage caused to civilians for operating among them, which the combatants deny.
The agencies also warned of the critical scarcity of food and drugs in the enclave. Twenty-five bakeries supported by the world food program during ceasefire had to close due to the scarcity of flour and cooking gas, according to the agency.
More than 50,000 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli campaign in Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities. The campaign was launched after thousands of armed men led by Hamas attack communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and hijacking 251 as hostages, according to Israeli records.
This content was originally published in UN agencies ask for urgent ceasefire renewal in Gaza on CNN Brazil.
Source: CNN Brasil
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