United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that more than a month has passed without a drop of aid entering Gaza, and “as aid runs out, the gates of horror are being reopened,” indicating that the Gaza Strip has become a killing field, and that civilians are trapped in an endless cycle of death.
In a press statement at UN headquarters on Tuesday, Guterres said that UN agencies and their partners are ready and determined to provide relief. However, the newly proposed “approval mechanisms” proposed by the Israeli occupation authorities for aid delivery threaten to impose further control over aid and significantly reduce it “down to the last calorie and grain.”
The Secretary-General said that the world may be at a loss for words to describe the situation in Gaza, “but we will never run away from the truth. The current path leads to a dead end, a situation that is completely unacceptable under international law and history. The risk of the West Bank becoming another Gaza only makes the situation worse.”
Guterres said, “We will not participate in any measure that does not fully respect the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality. Unhindered humanitarian access must be guaranteed, and all humanitarian workers must be afforded the protection they are entitled to under international law .”
The Secretary-General stressed the need to respect the sanctity of United Nations premises and assets. He again called for an independent investigation into the killing of humanitarian workers, including United Nations staff .
The United Nations said that at least 408 humanitarian workers, including more than 280 from UNRWA, have been killed in Gaza since October 2023 .
“I would like to say a special word about those heroic humanitarian workers in Gaza,” Guterres said. “They are under fire, but they are doing everything they can to continue on the path they have chosen – to help people .”
He added, “For weeks, the weapons fell silent, the obstacles were removed, and we were able to deliver life-saving supplies to virtually all parts of the Gaza Strip. All of this ended with the collapse of the ceasefire.”
The Secretary-General stressed the need for complete clarity on the current situation, stating that claims that there are sufficient quantities of food in Gaza to feed all Palestinians in the Strip are far removed from the reality on the ground .
He also made clear that Israel, as the occupying power, has an unequivocal obligation under international law. He quoted the Fourth Geneva Convention, which states that “the occupying power has the duty to ensure the food and medical supplies of the population… and to maintain the medical and hospital establishments and services, public health and hygiene in the occupied territory… If the whole or part of the population of an occupied territory is not adequately supplied, the occupying power shall approve and facilitate relief plans… by all means at its disposal.”
Guterres said that none of this is happening today, as no humanitarian supplies are entering Gaza, while food, medicine, and shelter supplies are piling up at crossing points, and vital equipment remains stuck there .
The Secretary-General stressed the need to adhere to core principles. He said, “United Nations Member States must comply with their obligations under international law. Justice and accountability must be met when those obligations are not met .”
Guterres stressed that the time has come to end the dehumanization of civilians, protect them, ensure life-saving relief, and resume the ceasefire .
