United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that a humanitarian ceasefire is needed in the Gaza Strip, even though efforts to renew calls for such a ceasefire in the UN Security Council failed.
“I believe that we need a humanitarian ceasefire, but of course, we are in favor of any pause that can lead to an improvement in humanitarian aid and the exchange of prisoners,” said Guterres.
His remarks came after the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for “urgent steps” to immediately allow “safe, unimpeded and expanded” humanitarian access to besieged Gaza, but without any call for a ceasefire, due to US- and who vote against such language.
After several days of intense negotiations and delays, the resolution proposed by the United Arab Emirates was adopted by 13 votes, with the United States of America (US) and Russia, both permanent members of the Council, abstaining.
“Today you can see glasses half full or half empty. I hope that today’s resolution will make people realize that a humanitarian ceasefire is really something that is needed if we want humanitarian aid to be delivered effectively,” said Guterres.
The US has already blocked resolutions calling for a ceasefire, to the apparent frustration of many countries around the world, including some of its allies in the Security Council.
Since October 7, the Israeli army has been waging a destructive war in Gaza, which has so far resulted in 20,057 deaths and 53,320 wounded, mostly children and women, AA writes.
