In an urgent appeal, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi have called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza to halt the “spiral of death.”
Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalation of conflict between Israel and Hamas, leading to intense aerial attacks and Israeli military operations that claimed the lives of numerous civilians. Addressing the UN Security Council, Grandi made a desperate plea for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, which has been sealed off by Israel since Hamas’ attacks on October 7.
Both leaders urged the international community to overcome divisions and exert authority to establish peace in the region. It is reported that over 8,500 Palestinians, including children and women, have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli retaliation. The priority now is to allow the entry of supplies to avert an unsustainable humanitarian crisis.
Guterres and Grandi emphasized the need for a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to ensure peace in the region and the world, urging the international community to act urgently amid the growing humanitarian crisis.