HAMILTON, Canada 

The UN Security Council (UNSC) expressed deep concern Thursday about the rising number of humanitarian workers killed in the Gaza Strip which stands at 224, marking an unprecedented level of danger faced by aid workers.

UNSC members pointed out in a statement seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) who were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

The UNSC emphasized that the 224 killed was three times the annual average in any conflict.

Members noted the need for accountability for all the deaths and underscored the necessity for the investigation into the killing of the WCK workers to be "transparent and comprehensive" and "fully publicized."

"The members of the Security Council also demanded that all parties to the conflict fully respect the protected status of humanitarian workers, facilities, and operations under international law, abide by humanitarian notification and deconfliction mechanisms, and immediately remediate any deficiencies in these mechanisms," it added.

UNSC calls for 'immediate lifting of all barriers to humanitarian aid delivery'

Expressing deep concern about the dire humanitarian situation and impending famine in Gaza, the UNSC "called for the immediate lifting of all barriers to the delivery of humanitarian aid at scale to the civilian population and the unhindered distribution of such assistance."

While acknowledging Israel's announcement of permitting humanitarian crossings through the Ashdod Port and the Beit Hanoun (Erez) border crossing, the statement "stressed that more should be done to bring the required relief given the scale of needs in Gaza."

It demanded an urgent cease-fire and the release of hostages while expressing support for all UN personnel and agencies, including the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Condemning all forms of violence and terrorism against civilians, the statement demanded the implementation of relevant UNSC resolutions.