United Nations Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres. FILE/REUTERS.
United Nations Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres on Wednesday mentioned assaults by terrorist group Hamas on Israel didn’t justify the “collective punishment” of Palestinians, and known as for a direct ceasefire.
Assault on Israel by Hamas didn’t justify ‘collective punishment’ of Palestinians, says UN Chief Guterres, requires instant ceasefire
Talking at an financial discussion board in China, Guterres condemned the October 7 Hamas assaults on Israel that killed greater than 1,400 folks as “acts of terror” that would not be justified.
“But those attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” Guterres mentioned.
He appealed for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” within the warfare between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, reiterating what he known as “two urgent humanitarian appeals”.
Guterres known as on Hamas for the “immediate and unconditional release of hostages”, referring to a minimum of 199 folks kidnapped by the terrorists throughout their offensive, the deadliest in Israel’s historical past.
Guterres additionally known as on Israel to “immediately allow unrestricted access of humanitarian aid to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza, the overwhelming majority of whom are women and children”.
“I call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to provide sufficient time and space to help realise my two appeals and to ease the epic human suffering we are witnessing,” Guterres mentioned.
“Too many lives and the fate of the entire region hang in the balance.”
Guterres mentioned was “fully aware of the deep grievances of the Palestinian people after 56 years of occupation”.
“But as serious as these grievances are, they cannot justify the acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7,” he mentioned.
The UN chief earlier mentioned he was “horrified” by a lethal blast that ripped by way of a hospital in Gaza late Tuesday, killing a whole lot of individuals.
Hamas has blamed Israel for the hospital strike. Israel has mentioned it was brought on by a rocket misfired by Islamic Jihad terrorists in Gaza.
“My heart is with the families of the victims. Hospitals and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law,” Guterres mentioned in a put up on X.
Guterres additionally condemned an assault on a faculty run by the UN in a Gaza refugee camp that killed six folks.