UN relief chief urges cessation of civilian suffering in Gaza

The UN relief chief has voiced grave concern over the devastating impact of recent Israeli airstrikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp and other areas in central Gaza.

According to UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Griffiths, the Israeli military operation has left a tragic toll, with at least 210 Palestinians killed and over 400 injured. “Nuseirat refugee camp is the epicenter of the seismic trauma that civilians in Gaza continue to suffer,” Griffiths said in a statement.

The strikes, which coincided with a sudden incursion of Israeli vehicles, have further exacerbated the dire humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave. Griffiths warned that “nowhere is safe in Gaza and health care… is hanging by a thread.”

The Hamas-run government reported widespread destruction, with vast tracts of Gaza now lying in ruins amid a crippling blockade of essential supplies. The latest violence comes eight months into the ongoing Israeli military offensive against Gaza.

The UN relief chief reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire, stressing that “this collective agony can and must end now.” He also demanded the release of all civilian hostages and the protection of all civilians.

Israel’s actions have drawn international condemnation, with the country accused of genocide at the International Criminal Court. The court has ordered Tel Aviv to halt its operations in Rafah, where over 1 million displaced Palestinians had sought refuge.