Agency official urges immediate, unconditional ceasefire and condemns attacks on civilians

An agency official condemned recent attacks as "unimaginable and unacceptable," saying the violence included strikes near a kindergarten and that "among the injured [were] our children." The speaker said the attacks underscore the need to keep civilians safe and protected.

The official called for full respect for international humanitarian law, stating that "any attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure wherever they occur are a clear violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately." The remarks linked the humanitarian urgency to broader appeals for de-escalation.

Invoking "our secretary general's frequent call," the speaker said an "immediate ceasefire" is necessary and repeated the Secretary General's appeal "for urgent deescalation leading to a full immediate and unconditional ceasefire." The statement emphasized that the senseless killing and destruction must stop and urged that all parties avoid further harm to civilians.

No formal action or next steps were announced in the statement. The remarks presented a public appeal for a cessation of hostilities and called attention to civilian harm, especially among children, as the central humanitarian concern.