UN Photo Eskinder Debebe
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, travelled to Egypt where he appealed for humanitarian access to Gaza, as essential supplies run out.
Guterres said he was in the region which is experiencing the most "profound crisis" unlike any seen in decades, triggered by the "atrocious" Hamas attacks against Israel on 7 October, and resulting in Israel’s siege and relentless bombing of Gaza.
He also pointed to the ever-mounting toll on civilians, the vast majority of whom are women and children, but also journalists, health workers, and many others, including UN staff.
The UN chief called for two immediate humanitarian actions in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe.
"To Hamas, for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. To Israel, for immediate unrestricted access of humanitarian aid to respond to the most basic needs of the people of Gaza"”
He also called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to help realise them.
"Let me be clear. The Palestinian people have legitimate and deep grievances after 56 years of occupation. But, as serious as those grievances are, they cannot justify terror attacks," he said.
"And as appalling as those attacks have been, they cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he said.
The UN Secretary-General also underlined the need for "rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza".
"We need food, water, medicine, and fuel now. We need it at scale, and we need it to be sustained," he said.
He said those delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza need to be able to get the aid in and they need to be able to distribute it safely.
Guterres is scheduled to participate in an international summit on Gaza convened by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Saturday.
(Source: UN)
