UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday condemned the intolerable level of suffering in Gaza following the deadliest Israeli airstrikes since a ceasefire was implemented.
These airstrikes, the most intense since the truce began on January 19, resulted in over 400 deaths, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Speaking at the UN in Geneva, Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, stating, “Unfortunately, we are witnessing a situation in which we have an intolerable level of suffering for the Palestinian people, with the air raids that killed hundreds of people.”
He also highlighted the ongoing Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid to the region.
The UN chief outlined three key demands for Israel and Hamas: adherence to the ceasefire, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, and the unconditional release of hostages.
He reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to these objectives, emphasising that the international community must continue to pressure both sides to comply.
Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, warned that resuming the war would only lead to “hell on earth,” with more civilian casualties, particularly among children.
UN rights chief Volker Turk also expressed horror at the strikes, calling for an immediate end to the violence and stressing that military force would only exacerbate the crisis.
He insisted on a political solution in line with international law to prevent further suffering and urged for the immediate release of hostages and all arbitrarily detained individuals.
