In a renewed call for a ceasefire in Gaza, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas is marked by clear violations of international humanitarian law. The UN chief expressed grave concern over the situation, citing the indiscriminate bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip by Israel and the horrifying and unprecedented attack launched by Hamas.

The conflict escalated on October 7 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,400 people according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israel cut off vital supplies such as water, food, fuel, and electricity to the enclave's 2.3 million residents. The United Nations has condemned this act as a form of collective punishment. Additionally, Israel initiated an assault on the territory, resulting in a reported 5,791 deaths according to Gaza authorities. The devastating impact of the conflict has forced more than one million people to be displaced, with Israel ordering residents of northern Gaza to evacuate to the south. Despite such evacuations, Israeli air raids have continued to ravage the entire territory.

During his address, Secretary-General Guterres emphasized the long-standing grievances faced by the Palestinian people due to decades of occupation. However, he made it clear that these grievances do not justify the attacks perpetrated by Hamas, which he described as appalling. Furthermore, he condemned the collective punishment inflicted upon the Palestinian people by Israel, highlighting the dire conditions faced by over a million residents who have been forced to flee to the south with inadequate resources for survival.

While not explicitly naming Israel, Guterres criticized the humanitarian situation created by the country's actions. He stressed that protecting civilians should not entail driving over a million people into an area where there is no shelter, food, water, medicine, or fuel, only to continue bombing that same area. These comments drew strong rebuke from Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who called the speech "shocking" and accused Guterres of sympathizing with terrorism.

In addition to demanding a ceasefire, Secretary-General Guterres also called for the release of approximately 200 individuals who are currently held captive by Hamas. Meanwhile, United Nations agencies have urgently called for emergency aid to be allowed unimpeded into Gaza. Existing deliveries fall drastically short of the required amount, with the agencies stating that more than 20 times the current level of aid is needed to address the dire humanitarian situation.

While a small amount of humanitarian aid has entered Gaza from the Egyptian side since Saturday, Guterres emphasized that this limited assistance is merely "a drop of aid in an ocean of need." As the conflict rages on, the international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the delivery of substantial humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza.