Fletcher said the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has reached intolerable levels as Israel continues its bombardment of civilian areas.

“Two years on since Hamas and other armed groups carried out those abhorrent attacks in Israel, as I’ve seen and heard from meeting the survivors and the families of those taken, the pain is indescribable,” he said.

He demanded the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages, stressing that civilians on all sides must be protected.

The UN official condemned the ongoing blockade and destruction in Gaza, saying it has turned the enclave into a wasteland of hunger, disease, and despair.

“Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, and hundreds of thousands now endure starvation and displacement,” he said.

He renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire and for unrestricted humanitarian aid to reach the besieged population.

“There’s now a glimmer of hope that this can happen. We must keep it alive,” Fletcher added, urging world powers not to allow Israel’s military campaign to erase Gaza’s remaining traces of life.