UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East Khaled Khiari says a ceasefire in Gaza is “long overdue”, reports. “The continued collective punishment of the Palestinian people is [unjust],” Khiari said in a briefing to the UN Security Council in its monthly Israel-Palestine meeting, adding that civilian casualties by Israeli forces are “horrific”. “The widespread devastation and deprivation resulting from Israel’s military operations in North Gaza, especially around Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoon, are making the conditions of life untenable for the Palestinian population there. “I condemn Israel’s use of explosive weapons.”