Volker Türk called for immediate end to violence and unconditional release of hostages

• Middle East crisis – live updates

The UN’s human rights chief has voiced horror at Israel’s resumption of airstrikes on Gaza that have killed at least 404 people, saying further misery was being inflicted on people “already suffering catastrophic conditions”.

In a statement on Tuesday Volker Türk said he was horrified by last night’s Israel airstrikes and shelling in Gaza. The decision to resume shelling in effect ended the fragile ceasefire that has paused the violence in the devastated Gaza strip since mid-January. Palestinian authorities reported a total of 404 deaths around noon local time, nine and a half hours after the strikes began.