Gaza ceasefire ‘a matter of life or death for millions’ says UN as Netanyahu vows to fight on

A humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is a “matter of life and death for millions”, said the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees in an emergency meeting on Monday.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency, said nearly 70 per cent of those reported killed have been children and women and accused Israel of “collective punishment” of Palestinians.

But Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a ceasefire, vowing to continue fighting.

Speaking in Tel Aviv, he said a ceasefire would mean surrendering to Hamas, and that “this is a time of war”.

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