Ammon News - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Sunday for Hamas to release all hostages and for Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning that the Middle East was “on the verge of the abyss”.

“Gaza is running out of water, electricity and other essential supplies,” Mr Guterres said in a statement.

UN stocks of food, water, medical supplies and fuel in Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel “can be dispatched within hours”, he continued, adding that staff “need to be able to bring these supplies into and throughout Gaza safely, and without impediment”.

And he called for Hamas to release hostages “immediately” and “without conditions”.