Updated

The United Nations is calling for Israel to agree to "a unilateral humanitarian pause" so that aid can be delivered to people in need of food, water and other necessities in Gaza.

U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Robert Serry, the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, made the appeal after talks with Israel's Coordination Office for Government Affairs in the (Palestinian) Territories.

If Israel agrees to a "humanitarian pause," Haq said, Serry "would then urge the parties in Gaza to respect that pause."

Haq said he was not aware of any time frame for the pause, adding that "the idea would be to allow for enough time as needed to get aid in."