Tor Wennesland, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, has said he visited the besieged Gaza Strip yesterday and witnessed the “scenes of destruction” which were “heart-wrenching”, Al Jazeera reports.

“The scenes of destruction and suffering of people are heart-wrenching,” he said. “And it is clear that urgent action is needed to alleviate the humanitarian crisis facing the Gaza Strip.”

Wennesland also said he visited al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis and met with officials to discuss ways to address the immediate needs of the population.

“What I saw in Gaza is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict,” he said, adding that the US proposal for a ceasefire should be accepted by all parties involved.