The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) called on Friday for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to end the "decimation" of Palestinian lives in the territory.

Philippe Lazzarini urged all UN member states to "take immediate actions to implement an immediate humanitarian ceasefire", saying in a statement that "calling for an end to the decimation of the lives of Palestinians in Gaza is not a denial of the abhorrent attacks of 7 October in Israel".