|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has reiterated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza, warning of catastrophic consequences as Israeli military operations intensify. Speaking Thursday at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Guterres emphasized the need to halt hostilities and secure the unconditional release of hostages.
“It is vital to reach immediately a ceasefire in Gaza,” he stated, condemning Israel’s recent approval of a large-scale settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The plan, which reportedly includes over 3,000 housing units, schools, and a clinic, would sever East Jerusalem from surrounding Palestinian territories. Guterres stressed that “all settlement construction is a violation of international law.”
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that the Israeli military has begun the “preliminary phase” of its offensive in Gaza City, with heavy bombardment targeting areas such as Jabalya and Az Zaytoun. Evacuation orders have been issued via quadcopters and phone calls, while entire neighborhoods face destruction.
UN aid agencies have raised alarms over worsening humanitarian conditions. Data from UNRWA clinics show child malnutrition in Gaza has tripled over the past six months. OHCHR also documented attacks on residential buildings and shelters, with families reportedly trapped under continuous bombardment.
The renewed ceasefire plea follows warnings from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who cautioned that the offensive could threaten the survival of Palestinians in Gaza. Amnesty International has accused Israel of employing starvation as a weapon of war, while UN experts recently described targeted strikes on Gaza’s healthcare system as “medicide”—a grave breach of international law.
Humanitarian organizations, including the EU Humanitarian Aid Operations, have condemned Israeli restrictions that block NGOs from delivering essential aid, further exacerbating the crisis.
