Aug. 21 (UPI) -- As the Israel Defense Force focuses on Hamas in northern Gaza, the United Nations is calling for an immediate end to hostilities to prevent a massive loss of civilian lives.
The IDF is targeting Gaza City, which is the largest in the Gaza Strip and home to about 1 million people, according to the United Nations.
"It is vital to reach immediately a cease-fire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters while at a Tokyo conference Thursday.
Such actions are needed to "avoid the massive death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza City would inevitably cause," Guterres said.
The IDF on Wednesday announced it had begun a military offensive against Az Zaytoun in Gaza City and Jabalya in northern Gaza with the aim of ridding the area of Hamas.
The United Nations reported shelling and continuous drone airstrikes, including against residential buildings, and the destruction of residential homes by IDF forces using explosives to target Hamas.
The IDF also is using quadcopters and phone calls to warn Jabalya residents to evacuate the area while military operations are underway.
The IDF also has "totally destroyed" parts of southern and southeast Gaza City while undertaking the city's "systematic destruction," the U.N. said.
The military operations have displaced much of the local population in Jabalya and Gaza City as the IDF continues its military operations in other parts of Gaza, including Khan Younis.
U.N. officials reported "acute malnourishment [is] soaring among children in Gaza City," with 28.5% of those screened showing signs of malnourishment, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency reported.
"Children continue to die from man-made starvation," UNRWA officials said.
IDF actions in southern Gaza have "crippled" UNRWA's ability to provide aid for Gazans there, while its offensive in Gaza City and Jabalya endangers efforts in northern Gaza, according to the U.N.
UNRWA officials said they provided more than 100,000 medical consultations and screened 3,500 children for malnutrition in Gaza City. They also delivered drinking water to 220,000 people and provided domestic water for 250,000, while clearing hundreds of tons of waste.
"While our colleagues, like the rest of the U.N., are determined to stay and deliver, all of these services are now at risk as the military operations intensify," UNRWA officials said.
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