United Nations Radio

United Nations and humanitarian agencies in Gaza say the move by Israel to suspend military action in Gaza for up to three hours a day was too short for any meaningful assistance to reach Palestinians.

Conflict in Gaza

The agencies say they are unable to undertake sufficient food distribution or evacuate the war wounded during the three-hour period. UN's Patrick Maigua sent us this report from Geneva:

"At a news briefing in Geneva on the situation in Gaza, the agencies said food; medical supplies and fuel were rapidly running out and called on Israel and Hamas to agree to a permanent ceasefire to enable humanitarian assistance reach those in need in Gaza. Spokesman for the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees UNRWA Christopher Gunness, said the three hour break was wholly inadequate to relieve widespread food and water shortages:

'If people do not feel confident enough in the so called pause, and these are people who have been under aerial bombardment for nearly two weeks then it does not work. So we say can we please heed the words of the Secretary General. It is absolutely incumbent that this three-hour pause is turned into a permanent ceasefire. The people of Gaza have suffered quite enough and it is time for the guns to fall silent.'

Patrick Maigua UN Radio Geneva
(duration: 1'17")