UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said Gazans are “in the midst of an epic humanitarian catastrophe before the eyes of the world”, AFP reports.

“Intense negotiations are taking place to prolong the truce — which we strongly welcome — but we believe we need a true humanitarian ceasefire,” he said at a UN Security Council meeting.

“I welcome the arrangement reached by Israel and Hamas — with the assistance of the governments of Qatar, Egypt and the United States,” Guterres said.

“Meanwhile, an estimated 45 per cent of all homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed,” he added.

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