UN agency leaders saying "enough is enough" demanded a humanitarian ceasefire on Monday, nearly a month into Gaza's war, as health authorities in the enclave said the death toll from Israeli strikes now exceeded 10,000.
Israel has rebuffed mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, saying hostages taken by Hamas militants during their rampage in southern Israel on Oct 7 should be released first.
"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," the United Nations chiefs said in a joint statement.
"We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It's been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now."
The 18 signatories include the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, World Health Organisation head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and UN aid chief Martin Griffiths.
The reported number of fatalities in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct 7 has surpassed 10,000, with the Health Ministry in the Hamascontrolled enclave saying at least 10,022 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,104 children.
A Reuters journalist in Gaza on Monday said an overnight bombardment by air, ground and sea was one of the most intense since Israel began its offensive following the attack by Hamas which killed 1,400 people and saw more than 240 taken hostage.
Israel, which says its forces have encircled Gaza City, faces mounting pressure over civilian casualties. A US diplomatic blitz in the region is intended to reduce risks of the conflict escalating.
The health ministry in Gaza said dozens of people were killed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza City, and further south in neighbourhoods such as Zawayda and Deir Al-Balah. Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV quoted medical sources as saying at least 75 Palestinians were killed and 106 hurt in the attacks.
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