'Resume pause' in Gaza, 'not war,' urges UN humanitarian office

GENEVA

The UN humanitarian office on Friday urged the resumption of the Gaza pause as the fighting in the besieged strip restarted soon after the humanitarian pause ended earlier in the day.

"Hell on earth has returned to Gaza," Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told a UN press briefing in Geneva.

"With the resumption of war, we fear that the continuation of this is now in doubt," Laerke said, noting that the Rafah crossing is "closed as of now."

He stressed: "We need a resumption of a humanitarian pause, not a return to war."

The spokesperson urged all parties to protect civilians and provide access to humanitarian actors to deliver across Gaza, and according to needs.

"Humanitarian aid must continue unconditionally," Laerke said.

He added that hostages must be released "unconditionally" as well.

At least 32 Palestinians were killed and several others injured as Israel resumed attacks in various areas of the Gaza Strip within three hours after the pause ended early on Friday, according to the Health Ministry in the enclave.