UN urges all parties to ensure ceasefire works in Gaza

GENEVA  - The U.N. human rights office on Friday urged all parties to do everything possible to ensure that a ceasefire in Gaza does not collapse amid "heavy bombardment" and killings of Palestinians.

"We are monitoring the situation closely," said spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani, after receiving reports of casualties from Israeli attacks despite a ceasefire agreement announced on Wednesday that came into effect on Sunday.

Shamdasani said his team witnessed heavy bombardment in the run-up to the ceasefire, including bombings the night before.

"We are aware that the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported that 81 Palestinians were killed on January 15 and 16," he said.

"We call on all warring parties to do everything they can to prevent the ceasefire agreement from collapsing," he urged.

Shamdasani called on the warring parties to implement the hard-won ceasefire agreement, and to move forward to complete the second and third phases of the agreement as soon as possible.