A senior UN official has called on Israel and Hamas to restore the ceasefire in Gaza and release all remaining hostages. Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General at the Department of Political Affairs, reiterated the UN’s condemnation of Hamas’ attacks on Israeli communities, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and more than 250 hostages.
The situation in Gaza has worsened following the collapse of a ceasefire deal and the resumption of full-blown conflict. Israeli airstrikes have killed hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children, and six UN staff members have been killed in the past three days.
A survivor of Hamas captivity, Eli Sharabi, testified before the Security Council about his 491-day ordeal. He was held underground, chained, starved, and subjected to psychological and physical abuse. Despite being freed last month, he learned that his wife and two daughters were killed by Hamas on the day he was taken.
Sharabi emphasized the importance of telling the stories of those still in captivity, including his brother Yossi, who was also taken hostage and killed. He urged the international community to bring all remaining hostages home, saying “bring them all home now” and “no more excuses, no more delays.”
Source: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/03/1161306