U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “extremely alarmed” at the resumption of hostilities in Gaza and is reiterating his call for a sustained humanitarian cease-fire and his appeal to Israel to spare civilians from more suffering.
Quick Read
- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is extremely alarmed by the renewed hostilities in Gaza: He emphasizes the urgent need for a sustained humanitarian cease-fire and appeals to Israel to prevent further civilian suffering.
- Guterres urges Israel and Hamas to adhere to international humanitarian law: U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric conveyed this message, stressing that the law mandates the protection of civilians, prohibiting targeting them either deliberately or indiscriminately, and requires military operations to be proportionate.
- Concern over the situation in Khan Younis, southern Gaza: Israel has urged mass evacuations, but the Secretary-General notes the lack of safe places and minimal survival resources, highlighting the dire situation faced by civilians.
- Call for continuous and unobstructed humanitarian aid in Gaza: Guterres reiterates the necessity of consistent aid throughout the Gaza Strip, as stated by Dujarric.
- Escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank is a grave concern: The Secretary-General is worried about the increasing violence, including intensified Israeli security operations, high numbers of fatalities and arrests, rising settler violence, and attacks on Israelis by Palestinians.
The Associated Press has the story:
UN Chief Antonio Guterres renews call for a Cease-fire in Gaza
Newslooks- UNITED NATIONS (AP)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “extremely alarmed” at the resumption of hostilities in Gaza and is reiterating his call for a sustained humanitarian cease-fire and his appeal to Israel to spare civilians from more suffering.
The U.N. chief is also calling on Israel and Hamas to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday. The laws state that civilians must not be targeted deliberately or indiscriminately, and that military operations must be proportionate.
Israel has called for mass evacuations from the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, but the secretary-general says “there is nowhere safe to go and very little to survive on,” according to the statement from his spokesman.
Guterres reiterated his call for unimpeded and sustained humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip, Dujarric said.
“The secretary-general also remains gravely concerned about the escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank, including intensified Israeli security operations, high numbers of fatalities and arrests, spiking settler violence and attacks on Israelis by Palestinians,” the U.N. spokesman said.