UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has advocated for a Gaza ceasefire and warned of the risk of “igniting a terrible war”. “I am deeply concerned by what is unfolding and the situation that is developing,” the UN Secretary-General told reporters who have been surveying the rising tensions from Gaza and the West Bank to Lebanon and the Red Sea. am .”
On Red Sea tensions, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “There is a lot of tension in the Red Sea and beyond and it looks like it may be impossible to control this rising tension.”
He further said, “The longer the ongoing conflict in Gaza continues, the greater the threat to humanity will increase. “We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.”
The General Assembly passed a resolution last month calling for an immediate ceasefire. But this proposal was ignored and it was told that the body has no such enforcement powers.
The Security Council can implement its decisions, but cannot demand a ceasefire due to the American veto.
Last month, the US vetoed a council resolution demanding a ceasefire. Israel had also opposed this.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched terrorist attacks on Israel from Gaza. More than 1,200 people were killed in this terrorist attack, while about 240 people were taken hostage.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said of the hostages that all hostages should be immediately released without conditions and, until they are freed, they should be treated with appropriate humane treatment. The Red Cross should be allowed to meet those hostages.
The UN Secretary-General said, “The sexual violence committed by Hamas and others on October 7 must be vigorously investigated and anyone accused must be prosecuted.”
According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, Israel launched its own retaliation after the terrorist attack and more than 30,000 people have been killed in the continuous retaliation initiated by Israel.
“This conflict has violated international humanitarian law and I am deeply concerned by these clear violations,” he said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “The destruction caused by the Israeli army’s attack on Gaza in these 100 days has been on a very large scale and a large number of civilians have also been killed. This is the first time in my tenure as General Secretary that this has happened for the first time. ,
Describing the collective punishment of the Palestinian people as unfair, he said that no one supports it nor can anyone justify it.
Guterres said that 152 UN staff have died in Gaza, which is the largest loss of life in the history of our organization. Despite such a situation, the aid workers there are still busy in their work.
Guterres called for increased access to humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and warned that, “The people of Gaza are facing health threats like disease, malnutrition, etc. and the situation is getting worse.” The problem of starvation has also arisen for the people.
On the continuation of the Gaza conflict, Guterres said that due to the continuation of the Gaza conflict, the atmosphere of tension is increasing in the occupied West Bank. There is firing on the Blue Line every day. Due to which there is a danger of increasing widespread tension between Israel and Lebanon. The Blue Line is the demarcation line separating the two countries, the ongoing firing on it also threatens to have a deep impact on regional stability.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, stop the ongoing firing on the Blue Line. Reduce the tension between these countries and end mutual hostility.
