Gaza war 'staining our shared humanity': UN
A top UN official said on Saturday that the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza was staining humanity, as the conflict in the besieged territory moves into its 100th day. "The massive death, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss and grief of the last 100 days are staining our shared humanity," the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement as he visited the Gaza Strip. Lazzarini condemned the "horrific attacks" that Hamas and other groups launched on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official figures. Some 250 more were taken hostage, of whom 132 are still in Gaza, though 25 are thought to be dead, Israeli officials say. "It's been 100 days of ordeal and anxiety for hostages and their families," Lazzarini said. Israel has pounded Gaza since October 7, killing at least 23,843 people, mostly women and children, according to the territory's health ministry. Lazzarini said an entire generation of children were being "traumatised" and would take years to heal. "People live in inhumane conditions, where diseases are spreading, including among children," he said. "They live through the unliveable, with the clock ticking fast towards famine." (AFP)