New York: In the midst of escalating violence and airstrikes, the Israeli military has issued a directive for Palestinians residing in Gaza City and its environs to relocate to the southern areas of the territory, UN Secretary-General Guterres declared on Friday.
Guterres emphasized the peril of moving over a million people across a densely populated conflict zone to a region devoid of essential resources such as food, water, and shelter, particularly when the entire territory remains under siege. He noted that, in some instances, this task is nearly impossible.
The healthcare situation in the southern part of Gaza is already critical, with hospitals operating at full capacity and unable to accommodate the influx of thousands of new patients from the north. The healthcare system teeters on the brink of collapse, with overflowing morgues, 11 healthcare professionals killed in the line of duty, and 34 attacks on healthcare facilities in recent days. Guterres conveyed these concerns as he made his way to a Security Council meeting addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Furthermore, the entire Gaza territory faces a severe water crisis due to damaged infrastructure and a lack of electricity to power water pumps and desalination plants.
Guterres underscored that the situation in Gaza has reached an alarmingly dangerous low, according to Xinhua news agency.
He pointed out that the horrific terror attacks by Hamas on Israel, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 people and injured thousands on October 7, were followed by intense Israeli bombardment of Gaza, resulting in 1,800 fatalities and numerous injuries.
Guterres called for immediate humanitarian access throughout Gaza to ensure the delivery of fuel, food, and water to those in dire need. He urged respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as the protection of civilians. Additionally, he called for the prompt release of hostages in Gaza.
The UN chief also issued a stern warning against the spread of hate speech fueled by the ongoing conflict, both within the Middle East and globally. He stressed that dehumanizing language that incites violence is unacceptable and called on leaders to denounce anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, and all forms of hate speech. Guterres emphasized the urgency for the international community to unite in safeguarding civilians and seeking a lasting solution to the never-ending cycle of death and destruction.