The heads of the United Nations World Food Program and U.N. children¡¯s agency UNICEF have privately appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for help ¡°alleviating the suffering of countless civilians¡± in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and Lebanon, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Monday.

¡°Effective and meaningful humanitarian action is possible with your political will and commitment,¡± wrote UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain in the previously unreported letter dated Oct. 11.

Netanyahu¡¯s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.