Guterres calls for a qualitative leap in delivering life-saving aid to the Gaza Strip

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed that the tragic humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip require a qualitative leap in delivering life-saving assistance to civilians in the besieged and devastated Strip.

In a statement to reporters today, Guterres said: “Meaningful change is required on the ground. It does not require a modified version of business as usual, but a real paradigm shift.”

“Six months later, we are on the brink of an abyss with the risks of severe mass starvation, the outbreak of a regional war and a complete loss of confidence in global norms , and it is time to step back from this brink, to alleviate the terrible suffering and stop a possible famine before it is too late,” Guterres added.

The UN secretary-general stressed that nothing can justify the collective punishment that the Palestinian people are being subjected to, pointing out that more than half of the population in Gaza is facing catastrophic hunger and children are dying due to lack of food and water.

Guterres explained that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip with its speed, size and ferocity is the bloodiest conflict for civilians, aid workers, journalists and health workers alike, where about 196 humanitarian aid workers were killed, including more than 175 UN employees, the majority of whom work for UNRWA, the backbone of all relief efforts in Gaza.

The secretary-general expressed his deep concern about the reports indicating the use of “artificial intelligence” by Israel as a tool in identifying targets, especially in densely populated residential areas, which leads to a high level of civilian casualties, noting that he had warned for many years of the dangers of using artificial intelligence as a weapon.

Guterres reiterated his urgent calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the protection of civilians and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.

Amal Farhat