The head of United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees, Philippe Lazzarini has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza saying it has become a matter of life and death for millions of besieged civilians.

Addressing the UN Security Council emergency meeting in New York, he criticized Israel's collective punishment of civilians and its forced displacement of Palestinians as well as its cutting off food, water, fuel and medicine to Gaza.

Meanwhile, briefing the Security Council, UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell said that over 3,400 children were killed and more than 6,300 others injured.