The situation in Gaza has reached a critical point as Israel’s military offensive continues, leading to growing criticism of Hamas within the region. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urgently called for the protection of civilians, unrestricted humanitarian aid, and an immediate ceasefire. He emphasized the fundamental principle of respecting and protecting civilians, condemning the deliberate killing, injuring, and kidnapping of civilians, as well as the launching of rockets against civilian targets.
Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel and called for the immediate release of hostages. He stressed the need for humanitarian aid to be delivered without restrictions to ease the suffering, make aid delivery safer, and facilitate the release of hostages. He also highlighted that the attacks by Hamas did not occur in a vacuum, pointing to the 56 years of occupation faced by the Palestinian people. However, he made it clear that the grievances of the Palestinian people do not justify the appalling attacks by Hamas, nor do these attacks justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process, described the devastating impact of Hamas’ October 7 attack and Israel’s ongoing military operation in Gaza. He reported that more than 1,400 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, and 220 civilians, including women and children, were taken as hostages. In response, Israel declared a state of war and commenced a massive bombardment of Gaza, targeting around 5,000 locations. The complete siege of Gaza, announced on October 8, has blocked all entry of goods, including electricity, water, food, and fuel.
The ongoing airstrikes have resulted in over 5,000 Palestinian deaths, including more than 1,100 women and 2,000 children. One million Palestinians have been displaced, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. Schools and hospitals, many sheltering displaced Palestinians, have also been hit. Wennesland warned of a significant risk of regional spillover, with violence in the occupied West Bank increasing since the outbreak of war. He stressed the need for a negotiated peace that fulfills the vision of two states, in line with UN resolutions, international law, and previous agreements.
Lynn Hastings, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, reported that nearly 1.4 million people have been displaced in Gaza, with around 600,000 sheltering in UNRWA facilities under dire conditions. She highlighted the lack of safe refuge in Gaza, with civilians facing impossible decisions on whether and where to flee. The destruction of housing units has left many without homes, and Gaza remains under a full electricity blackout, with hospitals on the brink of collapse. Deliveries via the Rafah crossing with Egypt have been minimal and do not include fuel, leading to severe shortages of essential services.
During a day-long debate, over 80 Heads of State, ministers, government officials, and representatives voiced alarm at the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. They stressed the need for water, fuel, and medicine to enter the besieged enclave and called for a ceasefire to prevent further escalation. While some delegates supported Israel’s right to defend itself, others deplored the blockade and the indiscriminate nature of the strikes, calling for respect for international law.
Riad Al-Maliki, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, urged the international community to end the ongoing massacres perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian civilian population. He called for a ceasefire, secure humanitarian access, an end to forced displacement, and international protection for the Palestinian people. He emphasized that peace and security cannot be achieved through violence and called for justice and accountability.
Eli Cohen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, highlighted the brutality of the October 7 attacks by Hamas and stressed the need for the international community to stand united against terrorism. He called for the immediate release of hostages and criticized Hamas for using resources to build tunnels and rocket factories instead of infrastructure for the people of Gaza.
Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States, asserted Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism and emphasized the need to protect Palestinian civilians. He called for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza and for humanitarian pauses to be considered. He also warned of Iran’s support for Hamas and Hizbullah and stated that the United States would defend its personnel if attacked.
The representative of the Russian Federation highlighted the scale of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and called for a swift and unconditional ceasefire. He criticized the current draft resolution from the United States and proposed an alternative draft based on humanitarian language.
The speaker for Iran pointed out the obstacles faced by the Council in taking decisive action, mainly due to the United States’ vetoes. He emphasized the legitimate right to self-determination and self-defense for the Palestinian people, including resistance groups like Hamas.
The delegate of Jordan, speaking for the Arab Group, called for a ceasefire and criticized the international community for allowing Israel to act above the law. Egypt’s representative deplored the indiscriminate violence and called for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to be granted.
Switzerland’s delegate emphasized the importance of protecting civilians and respecting international humanitarian law. She called for investigations into violations of international law and for perpetrators to be brought to justice.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with growing criticism of Hamas and urgent calls for humanitarian aid, a ceasefire, and a negotiated peace to prevent further escalation and regional spillover.
Source: United Nations, Al Jazeera, BBC News
