Gaza City: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that Gaza had become "a killing field" due to the ongoing Israeli genocidal war, that resulted in the killing of 50,810 Palestinians and injuring 115,688 others. He added that the Gaza Strip has been abandoned without 'a drop of aid' for more than a month, and the situation is proving dire for Palestinian residents in the enclave.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the UN chief highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting that essential supplies have been completely halted. "More than an entire month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaza. No food. No fuel. No medicine. No commercial supplies," he told reporters in New York. Guterres emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that as aid has dried up, the conditions have deteriorated significantly, leading to a civilian death toll that continues to rise.
Guterres reiterated Israel's obligations under international law to allow aid into the Strip, stressing that "no humanitarian supplies can enter Gaza." Meanwhile, essential supplies are accumulating at crossing points, unable to reach those in need. He criticized Israel's newly proposed "authorisation mechanisms" for controlling aid deliveries, which he argued could further limit the distribution of crucial resources.
The Secretary-General was firm in his stance against participating in any arrangement that does not fully respect humanitarian principles, emphasizing the need for unimpeded humanitarian access. He also responded to former U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians, asserting that such actions would violate international law and affirming the Palestinians' right to live in their homeland.