The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to “assume its responsibilities” by enforcing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and conducting an official visit to the territory, Al Jazeera reports.

In a statement posted on social media, the ministry urged the council to “halt the crimes of genocide, displacement, and annexation against our people” and to implement the outcomes of a recent UN conference calling for a two-state solution.

The ministry warned that more than two million Palestinians in Gaza are “living in a tight death circle of killing, starvation, thirst, and deprivation of medicine, treatment, and all basic human rights”.

It also questioned the role of some security council members, accusing some states of “deliberately prolonging the war in service of various political agendas and interests”.

The ministry said a UNSC visit to Gaza is essential to “break the Israeli siege and blackout”, adding that delays in enforcing a ceasefire only serve “plans for the forced displacement of our people”.