### UN Officials Warn of 'Apocalyptic' Conditions in North Gaza Amid Escalating Crisis

The situation in the northern Gaza Strip has been described as "apocalyptic" by senior United Nations officials, who issued a stark warning on Friday that the entire population faces an imminent threat of death due to disease, famine, and violence. The statement underscored the extent of the ongoing humanitarian disaster and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the region.

"The area has been under siege for almost a month, denied basic aid and life-saving supplies while bombardment and other attacks continue," the UN Inter-Agency Standing Committee stated. "Just in the past few days, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and thousands have once again been forcibly displaced."

The UN chiefs have called on all parties involved in the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians and implored Israel to halt its military offensive and allow humanitarian workers to operate safely. They emphasized that humanitarian aid efforts are being severely hampered by restricted access and ongoing insecurity, preventing essential supplies from reaching those in need.

In Gaza, the health ministry reported that at least 43,259 people have been killed in the year-long conflict, with 55 fatalities in the past 24 hours alone. Recent Israeli airstrikes have resulted in further casualties, including 60 deaths in central Gaza regions such as Deir al-Balah, the Nuseirat camp, and the town of al-Zawayda. The violence has also spilled into the West Bank, where four people were killed during an Israeli military raid on the Nur Shams refugee camp.

Lebanon has also suffered heavy losses amid the conflict, with 2,897 people killed since October of last year, including 30 deaths on Friday. Israeli airstrikes have targeted various regions, including Beirut's southern suburbs and the north-eastern city of Baalbek, resulting in extensive destruction and a high number of injuries.

Amid the escalating violence, the World Health Organization announced that a second round of child polio vaccinations in northern Gaza would commence on Saturday, following interruptions caused by Israeli bombings. The WHO expressed grave concerns about increasing attacks on healthcare workers and facilities in Lebanon.

In light of these developments, the United States has reportedly proposed a unilateral ceasefire in Lebanon to revive peace talks with Hezbollah, a suggestion that was subsequently denied by Lebanon’s Prime Minister, Najib Mikati. Meanwhile, Hamas has rejected a recent proposal for a short-term truce in Gaza, citing the lack of provisions for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the unprecedented levels of journalist killings in Gaza, calling it "unacceptable" and stressing the need for protecting press freedom and the voices of journalists amid the conflict.