The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres said yesterday that he would not give up his call for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, saying the conflict had undermined the credibility and authority of the UN Security Council.
Guterres made the statement during a forum in Doha after the United States (U.S.) vetoed a draft resolution in the UN Security Council at the end of the week calling for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant organization Hamas.
“I am asking the UN Security Council to exert pressure in order to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe and I repeat the appeal to declare a humanitarian ceasefire. Unfortunately, the Council did not succeed in this, but that does not mean that it is not necessary. I will not give up the appeal,” Guterres stressed.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated in an address to those present that Doha will continue to pressure Israel and Hamas to reach a truce despite the “weak” chances.
Qatar, home to several Hamas political leaders, is leading negotiations between the militants and Israel.
Al Thani pointed out that the hostages were released from Gaza because of negotiations, not because of Israel’s military actions.
The Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini emphasized that the dehumanization of Palestinians has enabled the international community to tolerate Israel’s continuous attacks on Gaza.
The U.S. and Israel are against establishing a ceasefire because they believe that only Hamas will benefit from it.
Washington supports pauses in the fighting to protect civilians and is facilitating the release of hostages taken by Hamas members in the deadly October 7th attack on Israel, Slobodna Evropa reports.
E.Dz.
