UN humanitarian chief calls Gaza war 'betrayal of humanity'

In a statement on the eve of the six-month anniversary of the war, MartinGriffiths, the outgoing under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs andemergency relief, called for a "collective determination that there be areckoning for this betrayal of humanity."
"Each day, this war claims more civilian victims," said Griffiths, who willleave his post at the end of June due to health reasons."Every second that it continues sows the seeds of a future so deeplyobscured by this relentless conflict."
The war began on October 7 with an unprecedented attack by Hamas militantsresulting in the death of 1,170 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians,Israeli figures show, reports BSS.
Palestinian militants also took around 250 Israeli and foreign hostages,about 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including more than 30 the army says are dead.
Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has relentlessly bombarded the territory byair, land and sea, killing at least 33,137 people, mostly women and children,according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Griffiths lamented "the unconscionable prospect of further escalation inGaza, where no one is safe and there is nowhere safe to go."
He added that "an already fragile aid operation continues to be underminedby bombardments, insecurity and denials of access."
"On this day, my heart goes out to the families of those killed, injured ortaken hostage, and to those who face the particular suffering of not knowingthe plight of their loved ones," he said in the statement.