“The world has had enough of this endless nightmare,” said United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday in Egypt, at the entrance to the Gaza Strip, where a war has been raging between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas for more than five months.
“I am speaking what the majority of the world, those who have seen enough, think. Those who have had enough,” Guterres said in a statement given from the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
“In Gaza, Palestinians are trapped in an endless nightmare,” he added.
Guterres condemned the destruction of buildings, the disappearance of entire families and generations, as well as the hunger threatening the population.
The UN Secretary-General once again called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“Nothing justifies the horrific attacks by Hamas on October 7th (on Israel). But, nothing justifies the collective punishment suffered by the Palestinian people. Now more than ever, it is time for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” said Guterres.
After five and a half months of destructive war, the Gaza Strip is under siege and on the brink of famine, in a catastrophic humanitarian situation.
Israel launched attacks after October 7th and Hamas attacks on Israeli territory, resulting in the deaths of at least 1.160 people and the abduction of around 250 hostages. It is believed that 130 hostages are still in Gaza, but 33 of them are believed to be dead.
In retaliation for the attack, Israel promised to destroy Hamas, which has been in power in Gaza since 2007 and initiated attacks on this Palestinian territory. Israel, like the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU), considers Hamas a terrorist organization.
In Israel’s offensive on Gaza since the beginning of the war, 32.142 people have been killed, according to the latest tally from the Hamas Health Ministry.
In Rafah, the UN chief called on Israel to commit to facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. He also called on Hamas to immediately release the abducted hostages.
“In the spirit of compassion and the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, it is time for all hostages to be released immediately,” Guterres said.
