The following is a satement by UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on Gaza:

‘I am deeply shocked that two UNRWA schools were struck in less than 24 hours in Gaza. Dozens of people – many women and children – were killed and injured as they were seeking safety in United Nations premises.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians are seeking shelter at United Nations facilities throughout Gaza due to the intensified fighting. I reaffirm that our premises are inviolable.

This war is having a staggering and unacceptable number of civilian casualties, including women and children, every day. This must stop.

I reiterate my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

I also want to express my deep appreciation for all the mediation efforts led by the government of Qatar.

Source: National news agency – Lebanon

US President Joe Biden announced that he “believes” that reaching an agreement to release hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip is imminent, according to the Washington Post.

In an event held at the White House, the US President replied to a journalist’s question, “Is there an imminent agreement to release the hostages?”, by saying, “I think so.”

Source: Jordan News Agency