‘Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza’

The United Nations deplored the resumption of conflict in Gaza yesterday, describing the hostilities as "catastrophic" and urging parties to bring about a lasting ceasefire.

Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the United Nations humanitarian office in Geneva, said the resumption of hostilities meant "hell on Earth has returned to Gaza".

Israeli warplanes resumed bombing Gaza, sending Palestinian civilians fleeing for shelter, after a week-old truce ran out with no deal to extend it.

"The resumption of hostilities in Gaza is catastrophic," said Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"I urge all parties and states with influence over them to redouble efforts, immediately, to ensure a ceasefire – on humanitarian and human rights grounds."

In a post on X social media platform, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he regretted the resumption of hostilities and hoped a new pause could be established.

"The return to hostilities only shows how important it is to have a true humanitarian ceasefire," he said.

Laerke said that the week-long truce had seen significantly larger humanitarian convoys entering densely populated Gaza, even reaching north of Wadi Gaza, which prior to the pause had received almost no supplies.

"With the resumption of war, we fear that the continuation of this (aid) is now in doubt," he said.

"The Rafah crossing is closed as of now. We need a resumption of a humanitarian pause, not a return to war."

Appealing for a lasting ceasefire, Unicef called inaction on Gaza "an approval of the killing of children".

"A lasting ceasefire must be implemented," James Elder, spokesperon for Unicef, told reporters via video link from Gaza.

"Inaction at its core is an approval of the killing of children.... It is reckless to think more attacks on the people of Gaza will lead to anything other than carnage."

Iran yesterday blamed Israel and the United States for resumption of the fighting in the Gaza Strip.

"After killing more than 15,000 Palestinians, the Zionist vampires have started a new round of killing under the continued support of the American government," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Kanani added that "the political and legal responsibility for the continuation of the aggression and massacre" rests with Israel, the US and "a few governments that support this apartheid regime."

On Thursday, US top diplomat Antony Blinken, meeting Israeli and Palestinian officials, called for the pause in hostilities to be extended, and warned any resumption of combat must protect Palestinian civilians.

Other world leaders, and aid groups, had also sought an extended pause.

"The nations and the vast majority of the governments of the world are shouting for the continuation of the ceasefire and the complete stop to the Zionist regime's attacks against Gaza and the West Bank," Kanani said.

Iran has denied any direct involvement in Hamas's attack on Israel. During the truce, mediated by Qatar with Egyptian and American support, 80 Israeli hostages were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.