The leaders of 18 UN agencies and non-profit organisations have called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, which has began on October 7.
A joint statement issued on Sunday expressed “shock and horror” at the mounting death toll from the conflict.
It added: “We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough.
“An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and places of worship. This is unacceptable.”
A ceasefire would require a formal, political agreement to be forged between Israel and Hamas to stop the fighting, involving the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the freeing of hostages by Hamas.
READ MORE: No ceasefire as Israel says ‘this is a time for war’ following full sclae attack
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected growing calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, demanding that all of the more than 240 hostages captured by Hamas be returned.
He said: “There will be no ceasefire without the return of the hostages. This should be completely removed from the lexicon.
“We say this to our friends and to our enemies. We will simply continue until we defeat them. We have no alternative.”
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Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer is facing a rebellion in his Party over the question of a ceasefire in Gaza, with dozens of councillors quitting due to his stance on the conflict.
Sir Keir has backed the Government’s call for a “humanitarian pause” in the fighting but has not called for an immediate ceasefire.
He argues that a ceasefire would see the conflict frozen in its current state, adding that Hamas would be “emboldened” by the move.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also not backed a ceasefire but supported “specific pauses” in the conflict to allow the provision of aid and get British nationals out.
So what do YOU think? Should UK back a ceasefire in Gaza? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comment section below.
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