‘Hostages doomed unless demands met’

Hamas warned that no hostages would leave Gaza alive unless its demands for prisoner releases were met, while the World Health Organization said the territory’s health system was collapsing after more than two months of war.

Hamas triggered the conflict with the deadliest-ever attack on Israel on October 7, in which it killed some 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures, and dragged around 240 hostages back to Gaza.

Israel has responded with a relentless military offensive that has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed at least 17,997 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

As aid groups warn the territory is on the brink of being overwhelmed by disease and starvation, the head of the United Nations decried a divided and “paralyzed” Security Council for disagreeing on a ceasefire.

“Gaza’s health system is on its knees and collapsing,” said World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, with only 14 of 36 hospitals functioning at any capacity.

WHO’s executive board on Sunday adopted a resolution calling for immediate, unimpeded aid deliveries.