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The heads of all major UN bodies demand an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the war between Israel and Hamas.
“For nearly a month, the world has witnessed the unfolding of the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, with shock and horror at the lives that have been spilled and torn apart,” the leaders said in a rare joint statement.
Among the 18 signatories are the heads of Unicef, the World Food Program (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The statement highlights the number of people killed on both sides in the conflict.
According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, over 9,700 Palestinians have lost their lives since the start of the war. Israel says around 1,400 Israelis, the vast majority of them civilians, were killed in massacres and attacks surrounding the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack.
In Gaza, the UN leaders say, “an entire population is under attack and siege, denied access to the necessities of life, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and religious gatherings. This is unacceptable.”
The leaders also call on Hamas to release the approximately 240 people estimated to have been taken hostage in connection with the October 7 attack and appeal to both parties to respect international law.
The signatories also want to see that larger amounts of food, water, medicine and fuel are released across the border and benefit the population.
“We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It has been 30 days. Now that’s enough. This must stop now,” they said in the statement.