Live: Israel and Hamas trade ceasefire accusations as more prisoners and hostages are

[ad_1]

Aid and development organisation Save the Children has called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, while criticising the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for not yet reaching a consensus on the protection of civilians in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The UNSC is set to meet today to discuss the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

Save the Children country director in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Jason Lee, says inaction is destroying children’s lives and “robbing them of their futures”.

“If the UNSC cannot uphold its mandate to promote peace, security and respect for human rights and international law, then the system is failing,” he says.

“With or without a resolution, children have the right to humanitarian access and protection. When the UNSC calls for these rights to be respected, and still nothing happens, then the global rules-based order is failing those children.

“How many lives have to be lost — from children, civilians, humanitarian staff — before the international community steps up and fulfills its legal, diplomatic and moral obligations to keep civilians safe from the clutches of conflict?

“The international community must stop standing by while children’s rights continue to be egregiously violated.”