UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has voiced deep concern about the “clear violations of international law” in the Gaza Strip amid Israel’s deadly bombing campaign in the besieged territory, calling for an immediate ceasefire to deliver humanitarian aid.
Guterres made the remarks at a Security Council session on Tuesday, saying that at a “crucial moment like this,” it was vital to be clear that war has rules, starting with the fundamental principle of respecting and protecting civilians.
“I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza. Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law,” he told the 15-member Council, without explicitly naming Israel.
Guterres further welcomed the crossing of three aid convoys so far through the Rafah border crossing, on Gaza’s southern border with Egypt, but described it as “a drop of aid in an ocean of need.”
He further warned that UN fuel supplies in Gaza will run out in a matter of days, which would be another disaster.
“To ease epic suffering, make the delivery of aid easier and safer, and facilitate the release of hostages, I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” the UN chief said.
Senior UN aid official Lynn Hastings also told the Council another 20 trucks were due to cross on Tuesday. But fuel has yet to be allowed in.
On Saturday, lifeline supplies entered the Gaza Strip after the conditional opening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
The Geneva-based organization stressed, however, that the supplies currently heading into Gaza will barely begin to address the escalating health needs of the besieged area’s 2.3 million Palestinians.
More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid had been positioned near the crossing for days, but just 20 trucks had crossed into Gaza on Saturday, according to Egypt’s media.
Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.
The death toll in Gaza since the start of Israeli aggression has reached nearly 5,800 with more than 18,000 wounded.
Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the besieged territory into a humanitarian crisis.
The regime has further ordered 1.1 million people in the north of Gaza to evacuate and move south of the blockaded territory.
