United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for massive aid to Gaza to fight starvation and said there is a growing international consensus to tell Israel that a ceasefire is needed in the war against Hamas.
He said during a visit to Amman that there was also a growing consensus to tell Israel that any ground invasion of Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, could mean a humanitarian disaster. Rafah has become the last refuge for half of Gaza’s displaced population, who fled fighting elsewhere in the enclave after more than five months of war.
Guterres stated that Israel should remove all obstacles to the provision of aid to Gaza and allow the passage of convoys of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRVA) to the northern part of the enclave, where famine is imminent.
“It is absolutely necessary that we now have a huge supply of humanitarian aid. This means opening more entry points, it means concentrating the efforts of all entities and without obstacles and restrictions from the Israeli side,” the UN Secretary-General stressed.
During a tour of the center in Jordan’s Wihdat camp, where UNRVA provides health and education services, Guterres noted that the agency is the lifeline and dignity of millions of refugees across the region.
The United Nations Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan, which would then evolve into a permanent and sustainable ceasefire.
As many as 14 countries voted for the resolution, which was presented by ten elected members of the Council, while the United States abstained.
The resolution calls for “an immediate ceasefire during Ramadan that will be respected by all parties, leading to a permanent and sustainable ceasefire”.
It calls for the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as ensuring humanitarian access to address their medical and other humanitarian needs.”
The official text states that the parties should respect their obligations under international law in relation to all persons they detain.
The resolution emphasizes “the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian aid and improve the protection of civilians throughout the Gaza Strip”, and reiterates the request to remove all obstacles to the provision of large-scale humanitarian aid, in accordance with international humanitarian law, as well as Security Council resolutions.
Accused of genocide, Israel launched a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip after a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7 that killed at least 32,333 Palestinians and injured 74,694.
On January 26, following a genocide lawsuit filed by the Republic of South Africa, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel must refrain from any actions related to the killing, attacks and destruction of the residents of the Gaza Strip and take all measures to prevent genocide, AAwrites.
