Amnesty urges cease-fire to end 'unprecedented civilian suffering' in Gaza Strip

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Amnesty International made an "urgent call" Thursday for an immediate cease-fire by all parties to ensure access to life-saving aid for residents in Gaza amid an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

The head of the human rights group, Agnes Callamard, said in a statement that the world has witnessed "horror unfolding on an unimaginable scale" in the last two weeks.

She said the situation in the Gaza Strip where more than 2 million residents are struggling to survive amid a "catastrophic humanitarian crisis" and the level of civilian casualties has been unprecedented.

Callamard said serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes, by all parties to the conflict continue "unabated."

"In the face of such unprecedented devastation and suffering, humanity must prevail," she said.

"Urgent action is needed to protect civilians and prevent further staggering levels of human suffering. We urge all members of the international community to come together to demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire by all parties in the conflict," she added.

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 8,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine, and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.