The United Nations chief is blaming Israel’s military strategy and procedures for the killing of nearly 200 humanitarian workers and is calling for independent investigations to fix those failures and practices. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Friday that the Israeli government acknowledged “mistakes” and announced some disciplinary measures against soldiers following this week’s “appalling killing” of seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen. “But the essential problem is not who made the mistakes, it is the military strategy and procedures in place that allow for those mistakes to multiply time and time again,” he said. “Fixing those failures requires independent investigations and meaningful and measurable change on the ground.”
Quick Read
- UN’s Stance on Israel’s Military Actions: The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized Israel’s military strategy and procedures for leading to the deaths of nearly 200 humanitarian workers in Gaza, including seven from World Central Kitchen this week.
- Call for Independent Investigations: Guterres is advocating for independent investigations to understand the failures and make necessary changes, emphasizing the need for cooperation from Israeli authorities.
- Humanitarian Worker Fatalities: The UN has reported the deaths of 196 aid workers, including over 175 UN staff, in the ongoing conflict, and is seeking explanations for each death.
- Israel’s Military Justifications: Israel maintains that its military actions, including strikes on ambulances, aid vehicles, and shelters, are justified due to the presence of armed fighters in populated areas, a claim that has been contested.
- Urgent Need for Increased Aid: The UN has been informed of Israel’s intentions to significantly increase aid distribution in Gaza, with Guterres highlighting the desperate situation and calling for quick action to prevent mass starvation and further escalation.
The Associated Press has the story:
Guterres blames Israel’s war strategy in Gaza for killing 200 aid workers
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS — (AP)
The United Nations chief is blaming Israel’s military strategy and procedures for the killing of nearly 200 humanitarian workers and is calling for independent investigations to fix those failures and practices.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Friday that the Israeli government acknowledged “mistakes” and announced some disciplinary measures against soldiers following this week’s “appalling killing” of seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen.
“But the essential problem is not who made the mistakes, it is the military strategy and procedures in place that allow for those mistakes to multiply time and time again,” he said. “Fixing those failures requires independent investigations and meaningful and measurable change on the ground.”
Guterres said some 196 humanitarian aid workers – including more than 175 United Nations staff –- have been killed in six months of war in Gaza, “and we want to know why each one of them was killed.”
The secretary-general said an independent investigation can only work with cooperation from the Israeli authorities. He repeated the importance of changing Israel’s system, strategy and procedures being used in Gaza that led to so many aid workers being killed.
Throughout the war, Israel has insisted that no target is off-limits and its forces have repeatedly struck ambulances and vehicles carrying aid, as well as relief organization offices and U.N. shelters, claiming that armed fighters were in them. Israeli authorities blame militants for civilian deaths, saying the groups operate in populated areas.
Guterres said Israel has informed the U.N. it intends to allow a substantial increase of aid to be distributed in Gaza.
“I sincerely hope that these intentions are effectively and quickly materialized because the situation in Gaza is absolutely desperate,” he said. “Six months on, we are at the brink: of mass starvation, of regional conflagration, of a total loss of faith in global standards and norms.”
“It’s time to step back from that brink,” the U.N. chief said, reiterating his urgent appeals for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and release of all remaining Israeli hostages taken captive on Oct. 7.
