UN chief urges ceasefire in Gaza amid escalating conflict

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, highlighting the dire situation in Gaza which he described as "worsening by the day."

Speaking to journalists in New York, Guterres emphasized the urgency of reaching a ceasefire agreement for the "sake of the people of Gaza, the hostages and their families in Israel, and the wider region."

The UN chief expressed his concerns, stating that without an agreement, the war, with all its consequences both in Gaza and across the region, "will worsen exponentially."

He highlighted the potential for further devastation in the Rafah area, where airstrikes have intensified. A military assault there "would be an unbearable escalation," he warned, noting that it would result in thousands more civilian deaths and force hundreds of thousands to flee.

In his appeal, Guterres stressed the critical need for humanitarian aid, especially in northern Gaza where a "preventable human-made famine" looms.

He urged the international community to do everything possible to "avert an entirely preventable human-made famine."

He also reiterated the necessity for safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza. "There is no alternative to the massive use of land routes for aid delivery," he emphasized. 

Addressing the health crisis, Guterres said the war has "decimated" Gaza's health system, with two-thirds of hospitals and health centers either out of commission or seriously damaged. "Some hospitals now resemble cemeteries," he remarked, deeply alarmed by reports of mass graves at several locations, including Al-Shifa and Nasser hospitals.

On the matter of accountability, Guterres called for independent international forensic investigations to clarify the circumstances surrounding the mass graves. "The families of the dead and missing have a right to know what happened, and the world has a right to accountability for any violations of international law that may have occurred," he asserted.

Guterres praised the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), describing it as "irreplaceable and indispensable" in providing education, healthcare and stability across the region.

He called for renewed support and funding for UNRWA, urging donors and member states to step up support and contribute to a two-state solution as "the only sustainable path to peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region."