Guterres urges Israel and Hamas to “reach an agreement now” to end the “terrible war” in Gaza

UN chief says humanitarian situation in Gaza is a “moral stain” on the entire world

Jul 18 (EUROPA PRESS) –

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday urged Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to “reach an agreement now” to end the “terrible war” in the Gaza Strip, where the serious humanitarian situation has become a “moral stain” for the entire world and could spread to Lebanon given recent tensions between the Israeli army and the Shiite militia-party Hezbollah.

“We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States, negotiations to formulate an agreement for the release of the hostages and a ceasefire continue with some progress. (…) The UN will continue to support all these efforts,” Guterres said during his address to the UN Security Council.

In the meantime, the UN called on the parties to respect international humanitarian law and to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave, especially to ensure the “fundamental work” of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

Guterres also called on Israeli authorities to treat Palestinians arrested in a “humane” manner in response to reports of abuses against them, and demanded the release of those detained “without legal cause.”

INSISTS ON A POLITICAL SOLUTION

“We must refocus on finding a political solution that ends the occupation and resolves the conflict in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions. Ensuring the restoration of governance in Gaza under a single, legitimate Palestinian government is essential to this effort,” he said.

On this basis, he reiterated that support for the Palestinian Authority is “fundamental” so that it is prepared to return to the Government of Gaza, and he asked the countries with influence on the actors involved in the conflict to “take measures” so that all of them return to the political path that leads “to the end of the occupation” of Palestine based on International Law and the UN resolutions regarding the two-State solution.

He also reiterated his condemnation of both the Hamas attacks on October 7, which left 1,200 dead and 240 hostages, and the “collective punishment” by the Israeli army against the Strip, where almost 38,800 Palestinians have already died in a conflict that has led Guterres to invoke Article 99 of the UN Charter to alert the Security Council about this situation.

“The humanitarian aid system in Gaza is close to total collapse. Law and order is completely disrupted. Rafah is in ruins and the Rafah border crossing remains closed, making humanitarian operations even more difficult. Nearly two million people have been forced to flee, almost the entire population of Gaza, many of them multiple times. Nowhere in Gaza is safe. Lawlessness and criminality are rampant,” he warned.

He also recalled the attacks against humanitarian workers at a time when contagious diseases are on the rise, when almost half a million people are facing serious levels of food insecurity and when access to water, health and hygiene services is complicated due to the lack of inflow of aid.

“DANGEROUS SITUATION” IN THE WEST BANK

The Secretary-General also recalled the grave situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where nearly 560 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces or settlers, while 22 Israeli citizens have been killed in Palestinian attacks since 7 October.

“While much of the world’s attention is focused on Gaza, the occupied West Bank – including East Jerusalem – faces a dangerous situation. High levels of violence persist, both by Israeli security forces and by Palestinian settlers and armed groups. Meanwhile, Israeli measures are undermining the Palestinian Authority, crippling the Palestinian economy and fuelling instability,” he added.

In this regard, he criticised Israel’s decisions to legalise new settlements and land seizures in the West Bank, as well as the suspension of the delivery of funds raised on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, although part of these have recently been transferred.

“Recent developments are driving a stake into the heart of any prospect of a two-state solution. The geography of the occupied West Bank is being constantly altered by Israeli administrative and legal measures. These changes include the issuance of two military orders in late May. These orders alarmingly transferred powers and appointed a civilian deputy in Israel’s Civil Administration,” Guterres said.

Finally, he called for a “change of course” in the face of the “risk of causing irreparable damage” to daily life in the West Bank, where he called for an end to violence and for Israel to protect the Palestinian population.