United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that civilian deaths in Gaza are "unparalleled and unprecedented," adding that the number of children killed in a matter of weeks is the highest in his years as a secretary-general.

On November 22, Israel's cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Hamas that would bring a temporary halt to a devastating war that has stretched on for over six weeks. Under the agreement, Hamas is to free 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it is holding in Gaza over four days. In exchange, Israel will release 150 Palestinian women and children from jail.