Jeremy Lawrence, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip after a recent visit to the Palestinian territories.
advertisementIn a note released from the visit, Lawrence detailed the grim reality on the ground in Gaza, particularly the continuing worsening humanitarian catastrophe.
He said most of the people he met in Gaza made desperate pleas for a ceasefire. Their mental and physical condition had completely collapsed after “13 months of merciless violence.”
“Securing basic necessities has become a daily, harrowing struggle for survival. I have seen dozens of women and children scavenging waste from large landfills.”
Laurence said providing humanitarian assistance continues to top the list of key needs for the people of Gaza. “It is abundantly clear that massive humanitarian assistance is needed.” His note described the situation as entirely preventable and emphasized the urgency of significantly increasing the flow of life-saving assistance to avoid worsening an already dire situation. “It is very important that the Israeli authorities make this happen.”
After nearly 14 months of fighting, much of Gaza’s infrastructure has been reduced to ruins, the UN highlighted in a recent report. About 1.9 million people; Approximately 90% of the population has experienced multiple internal displacements.
Israeli and Turkish media outlets said a Hamas delegation was expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday and hold talks with Egyptian officials. This follows recent comments by US President Joe Biden, who said his administration would resume mediation efforts with Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye to end hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier on Tuesday, Biden announced a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which, depending on its terms, would end 13 months of cross-border gunfights between Israel and Lebanon. According to Biden, the deal is designed to be permanent.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is willing to sign a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages. The Israeli prime minister said he was always open to a pause in the fighting, but the war would not end until all of Israel’s military targets, namely Hamas, were destroyed.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people. Israeli officials have said the war in Gaza will continue until Hamas no longer has the ability to organize such attacks.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said more than 44,300 people have been killed since Israel began its offensive. But their tallies do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The United Nations said nearly 70% of the verifiable deaths in Gaza were women and children.
