UN agency in Gaza says urgent cease-fire is `matter of life and death’ for millions of Palestinians

Edith M. Lederer, The Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees told a U.N. emergency meeting Monday "an immediate humanitarian cease-fire has become a matter of life and death for millions," accusing Israel of "collective punishment" of Palestinians and the forced displacement of civilians. Philippe Lazzarini warned that a further breakdown of civil order following the looting of the agency's warehouses by Palestinians searching for food and other aid "will make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for the largest U.N. agency in Gaza to continue operating." Briefings to the Security Council…