The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has called for an immediate truce in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as well as in Sudan.
He said this while speaking to the press as the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan began Monday, March 11.
In a plea to both conflict zones, Guterres emphasised the urgency of delivering massive lifesaving aid to Gaza, where the UN has highlighted the risk of famine affecting a quarter of its population.
The Secretary-General also requested the release of hostages held by Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States and the European Union.
He stressed the need to remove any barriers to ensure rapid and large-scale aid delivery to those in need.
Furthermore, the 74-year-old expressed deep concern over the state of international humanitarian law, describing it as “in tatters.”
He warned that “a threatened Israeli assault on Rafah could plummet the people of Gaza into an even deeper circle of hell.
“The eyes of the world are watching. The eyes of history are watching. We cannot look away. We must act to avoid more preventable deaths,” Guterres added.
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