UN human rights body: Gaza violence has 'devastating' effect on children

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child issued a statement on Tuesday in which it said the effect of the 18-day Israel Defense Forces operation in Gaza has been 'devastating' to children living in the coastal territory.

"Children have also experienced serious difficulties in accessing humanitarian aid. The emotional and psychological effects of these events on an entire generation of children will be severe," the statement reads.

The statement calls on Israel to adhere to previously-signed international agreements and avoid "the targeting of children in situations of armed conflict and direct attacks on objects protected under international law, including places that generally have a significant presence of children, such as schools and hospitals."

The Hamas-run Health Ministry said Tuesday the death toll has risen to 971 in the Gaza fighting, among those 400 women and children, a figure that has not been confirmed by outside sources.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon headed to the Middle East on Tuesday to step up diplomatic efforts to get Israel and Hamas to adhere to a UN cease-fire resolution in the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian aid into the coastal territory.

"My message is simple, direct, and to the point: the fighting must stop. To both sides, I say: Just stop now," Ban told reporters before his departure.

"Too many people have died. There has been too much civilian suffering. Too many people, Israelis and Palestinians, live in daily fear of their lives," he added.