A joint statement from 14 of the 15 members of the UN Security Council has called for Israel to stop further expansion of its military operation in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

The statement, which was not signed by the US, also backed the IPC global hunger monitoring system that confirmed a famine in Gaza and said the famine in Gaza was a man-made crisis.

It also warned that the use of starvation as a weapon of war is banned under international law.

The joint statement also called for an immediate and unconditional permanent Gaza ceasefire, the release of captives held in the enclave and demanded Israel immediately and unconditionally lift all restrictions on aid delivery into Gaza.