Guterres: Nothing Justifies Collective Punishment of Palestinians and there must be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres renewed the call for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, stressing that there are no justifications for the collective punishment inflicted on Palestinians.

Addressing the UNRWA Pledging Conference, Guterres said, “The level of killing and destruction in the Gaza Strip is incomprehensible and now is the time to put an end to this terrible war and declare an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.”

Guterres pointed to what the Palestinians are currently experiencing and their urgent need for UNRWA, condemning the increasing evacuation orders imposed by the Israeli occupation forces, which are forcing Palestinians to displacement.

Guterres reiterated that UNRWA is the backbone of humanitarian operations in Gaza and there is no alternative to it, stressing that its work is one of the greatest factors that provide a glimmer of hope and a measure of stability in a troubled region.

Guterres pointed to the martyrdom of 195 UNRWA employees during the aggression on Gaza, which constitutes the highest number of victims in the history of humanitarian relief work, calling for continuing to fund the agency and protect its staff and headquarters so that the Palestinian refugees do not lose a critical lifeline and the last hope for a better future.

Amal Farhat