United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed grave concern about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, condemning the continuous loss of civilian lives. He reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, along with the “unconditional and immediate” release of all hostages.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, the UN Secretary-General condemned recent attacks on areas sheltering displaced civilians and locations where people were seeking food, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties and injuries. The statement also emphasized the need for full, safe, and sustained humanitarian access.
Guterres has called for complete, safe, and sustained humanitarian access to the region. He insisted that all parties uphold their commitments under international law. He renewed his call for an immediate permanent ceasefire.
Guterres raised serious concerns regarding the depletion of essential resources in Gaza, noting that no fuel has entered the region in over 17 weeks. He warned that the lack of fuel would lead to further human losses.
He stressed that without an immediate fuel supply, critical services such as incubators, ambulances, and water purification systems will fail. He added that the United Nations and its partners would also halt the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Separately, former US President Donald Trump announced that Israel has agreed to conditions to finalize a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. He warned Hamas against rejecting the ceasefire deal, saying it would worsen the situation. Notably, according to reports, Hamas is still holding 50 hostages.