New York: Europe and the Arabs
The Secretary-General of the United Nations said that the nightmare witnessed by the Gaza Strip is more than a humanitarian crisis because it is “a crisis for humanity.” He said that the escalation of the conflict shook the world and the region, and more importantly destroyed many innocent lives, reiterating the call for a humanitarian ceasefire and the release of the hostages. According to what was stated in the daily United Nations news bulletin, a copy of which we received this morning.
In press statements in New York, António Guterres announced that the United Nations and its partners had launched a humanitarian appeal worth $1.2 billion to help 2.7 million people, including the entire population of the Gaza Strip and 500,000 people in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The Secretary-General pointed out that some life-saving aid entered Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing. But he stressed that the Rafah crossing alone is not equipped with the necessary capabilities for relief trucks to pass on the required scale.
He said that slightly more than 400 trucks crossed into Gaza during the past two weeks, compared to 500 trucks that used to enter the Strip daily before the current conflict. He pointed out that those trucks that crossed into the Gaza Strip recently did not deliver the urgently needed fuel.
Unconditional humanitarian appeals
António Guterres stated that the unfolding catastrophe makes the need for a humanitarian ceasefire more urgent with every passing hour.
He said the way forward was clear and added: “A humanitarian ceasefire now. And all parties respecting all their obligations under international humanitarian law now. This means the unconditional release of the hostages in Gaza now. The protection of civilians, hospitals, UN facilities, shelters and schools now. And the entry of more Food, water, medicine and, of course, fuel to Gaza safely and urgently and on the scale required now.”
Guterres stressed the need to ensure unhindered access of supplies to all Gazans in need and to end the use of civilians as human shields. He said that none of these calls should be conditional on the other.
The Secretary-General said in his statements to reporters, "The Israeli army's ground operations and ongoing air strikes are hitting civilians, hospitals, refugee camps, mosques, churches, and United Nations facilities, including shelters."
He added: "At the same time, Hamas and other militants use civilians as human shields and continue to fire rockets randomly toward Israel."
The Secretary-General reiterated his absolute condemnation of the horrific terrorist acts committed by Hamas on October 7, and his call for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of the hostages being held in Gaza. He said that nothing justifies the deliberate torture, killing, injury and kidnapping of civilians. He stressed the utmost importance of protecting them.
No one is above international humanitarian law
Guterres expressed his deep concern about the clear violations of international humanitarian law, and said: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law.
Gaza has become a graveyard for children, as the UN Secretary-General said, with hundreds of girls and boys reportedly killed and injured every day.
It was also reported that the number of journalists killed during the past four weeks exceeds the number recorded in any conflict that occurred during the past three decades. As for the deaths of UN relief workers, the Secretary-General said that their number in Gaza exceeds any number recorded during the same period of time in the history of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General saluted all those who continue their life-saving work despite the enormous challenges and risks.