Amid Increasingly Dire Humanitarian Situation in Gaza, Secretary-General Tells Security Council Hamas Attacks Cannot Justify Collective Punishment of Palestinian People
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations, warned that the situation in the Middle East grew more dire by the hour, with the war in Gaza raging, and risking spiralling throughout the region. “At a crucial moment like this, it is vital to be clear on principles — starting with the fundamental principle of respecting and protecting civilians,” he stressed. Recalling his unequivocal condemnation of the horrifying and unprecedented 7 October acts of terror by Hamas in Israel, he stated, “nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians — or the launching of rockets against civilian targets.” All hostages must be treated humanely and released immediately and without conditions, he said, noting the presence of members of their families.
The attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum, with the Palestinian people being subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation, during which they saw their land devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced; their homes demolished, and their hopes for a political solution vanishing, he went on. However, the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. “And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” he said, emphasizing: “Even war has rules.” All parties must uphold and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law; take constant care in the conduct of military operations to spare civilians; and respect and protect hospitals and respect the inviolability of United Nations facilities which today are sheltering more than 600,000 Palestinians.
He went on to voice deep alarm over the relentless bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces, the level of civilian casualties and the mounting destruction of entire neighbourhoods, underscoring the importance of protecting civilians in any armed conflict. “Protecting civilians can never mean using them as human shields,” he said, adding: “Protecting civilians does not mean ordering more than 1 million people to evacuate to the south, where there is no shelter, no food, no water, no medicine and no fuel, and then continuing to bomb the south itself.” Voicing concern over the clear violations of international humanitarian law being witnessed in Gaza, he said, “Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law.” While some humanitarian relief is finally getting into Gaza, it represented “a drop of aid in an ocean of need”. United Nations fuel supplies in Gaza will run out in a matter of days, he said, adding: “That would be another disaster.”
The people of Gaza need continuous aid delivery at a level that corresponds to the enormous needs, he continued, adding: “That aid must be delivered without restrictions.” He commended his United Nations colleagues and humanitarian partners in Gaza risking their lives to provide aid to those in need, stressing: “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.” Even in “this moment of grave and immediate danger”, he emphasized that a two-State solution is the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability. Israelis must see their legitimate needs for security materialized, and Palestinians must see their legitimate aspirations for an independent State realized, in line with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements.
Finally, he called for human dignity to be upheld. Observing that polarization and dehumanization are being fuelled by a tsunami of disinformation, he said, “we must stand up to the forces of antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry and all forms of hate.” He noted that today is United Nations Day, marking 78 years since the Charter of the United Nations entered into force, reflecting Members’ shared commitment to advance peace, sustainable development and human rights. At this critical hour, he appealed to all to pull back from the brink before the violence claims even more lives and spreads even farther.
