Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are living in "utter, deepening horror", the UN human rights chief says, as he calls for an urgent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. "Civilians in Gaza continue to be relentlessly bombarded by Israel and collectively punished -- suffering death, siege, destruction and deprivation of the most essential human needs such as food, water, lifesaving medical supplies and other essentials on a massive scale," Volker Turk tells a press conference in Geneva. Israel declared war on Hamas after the militant group's October 7 attacks that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and which saw around 240 hostages taken back to Gaza, according to Israeli authorities. Israel has vowed to eradicate Hamas and secure the release of all the hostages. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says the war has killed more than 16,248 people in the territory, most of them women and children. SOUNDBITE