The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has issued a compelling call for an immediate ceasefire to quell the “epic suffering” endured in the Gaza Strip. The plea comes in the wake of reports indicating that Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of over 700 individuals in a single day, rendering hospitals inoperable due to an acute shortage of fuel.
Guterres did not mince words, emphasizing that the relentless bombardment and blockade of Gaza amount to the “collective punishment of the Palestinian people” and a blatant violation of international law. His statements have sparked a heated dispute with Israel.
“To alleviate this epic suffering, ensure the safe and efficient delivery of humanitarian aid, and enable the release of hostages, I reiterate my urgent call for a humanitarian ceasefire,” Guterres stated.
While acknowledging the appalling nature of the October 7th attacks by Hamas, Guterres underscored that these actions are rooted in a broader context. “The Palestinian people have endured 56 years of oppressive occupation,” he affirmed. “Their land has steadily dwindled due to the expansion of settlements and unrelenting violence. Their economy has been stifled, their population displaced, and their homes demolished. Their hopes for a political resolution to their plight have gradually faded.”
In response, Israel’s envoy to the UN, Gilad Erdan, demanded Guterres’s immediate resignation, alleging that the Secretary-General is out of touch with reality. “His comments… constitute a rationalization of terrorism and murder. It’s regrettable that an individual with such viewpoints leads an organization born in the aftermath of the Holocaust.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, canceled a scheduled meeting with Guterres, further reflecting the tension between the two prties.
In a grim turn of events, the recent airstrikes have resulted in the reported death of at least 704 individuals within a single day, as confirmed by the Hamas-run health ministry. This grim statistic pushes Gaza’s overall death toll to a staggering 5,791, including 2,360 children, over 18 days of relentless bombardment.
The humanitarian crisis deepens as Gaza’s hospitals teeter on the brink of total shutdown, primarily due to fuel shortages. Notably, a shipment of aid, initially expected to reach the besieged region, was stalled at the Egyptian border, caught in a web of negotiations involving Israel, Egypt, the United States, and the United Nations.
However, the Palestinian Red Crescent later reported the successful arrival of eight trucks carrying essential supplies such as water, food, and medicine into Gaza.
When questioned about the efficiency of aid distribution, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed concern, stating, “It’s not happening quickly enough.”
Tragically, three hospitals in Gaza have reached a critical juncture where they can no longer operate due to the exhaustion of fuel reserves. Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila has urgently called for a safe corridor to transport critically injured individuals to hospitals in Egypt.
On a concerning note, Israel has declared that fuel supplies will not be part of any aid shipments to Gaza. R. Adm Daniel Hagari explained, “Fuel will not be allowed into Gaza, as Hamas utilizes it for its operational requirements. If necessary, Hamas can return the fuel it misappropriated from UNRWA to assist hospitals.”
In the early hours of Wednesday, Palestinian media reported that an Israeli strike near the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank claimed three lives, with over 20 individuals sustaining injuries. While the Israeli military acknowledged conducting “counterterrorism activities” in the area, it refrained from commenting on casualties.
The situation took a more disconcerting turn as Hamas launched a barrage of rockets into central Israel on Tuesday, triggering air raid sirens and causing shrapnel injuries to two individuals. Google announced that it had temporarily disabled live traffic and “busyness information” in Israel and Gaza on its Maps and Waze applications as a safety measure.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama, in a rare intervention, cautioned Israel that cutting off access to food, water, and electricity could have far-reaching consequences, hardening Palestinian attitudes for generations and eroding international support for Israel.
As the death toll mounts, it becomes evident that Israel is broadening its aerial campaign in preparation for an expected ground offensive against Hamas. In response to the group’s attack on southern Israel on October 7th, resulting in more than 1,400 casualties and the taking of over 220 hostages in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted, “We have but one mission: to dismantle Hamas. We will not relent until this mission is accomplished, with your support.”
The Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, stressed that Hamas leaders are already ruing their actions and will continue to pay the price. “This war is directed solely at the Hamas leadership and all those who acted under its command. They will bear the consequences of their actions,” he declared.
The Israeli internal security service, Shin Bet, unveiled recordings of interrogations with six Hamas militants taken into custody following the group’s assault in southern Israel. These detainees revealed that they were instructed to target young men, and to abduct women, children, and the elderly, in exchange for promised financial rewards of up to $10,000. Some detainees alleged that the plan involved the displacement of the population and the seizure of specific locations.
The Associated Press, which reviewed the recordings, was unable to independently verify their authenticity, suggesting that the captured individuals might have been coerced.
In a parallel propaganda battle, Hamas released a video on Monday, depicting the release of hostages Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, and Nurit Yitzhak, 79. Lifshitz even shook hands with one of the Hamas gunmen. She described her ordeal as nightmarish at a press conference in Tel Aviv but also acknowledged moments of compassion from some of her captors. This drew criticism from Israeli commentators, deeming her statements a public relations setback.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged UN member states to leverage their influence to secure the release of remaining hostages while advocating against the opening of further fronts in the conflict. “Do not add fuel to the fire,” he implored the UN Security Council. Additionally, he called for an escalation in the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilians.
Notably, the Biden administration refrained from endorsing a ceasefire, maintaining that Israel must continue to target Hamas leaders.
Meanwhile, Russia declared its intent to veto a U.S.-drafted UN Security Council resolution supporting the “inherent right of all states” to self-defense, while advocating for compliance with international law and endorsing “humanitarian pauses” to facilitate aid delivery without calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Blinken emphasized that no nation would tolerate the mass loss of life witnessed in this conflict.
With the UN Security Council gridlocked, the UN General Assembly, although non-binding, is scheduled to address the crisis on Thursday following requests from various countries, including Jordan and Russia. The quest for a resolution to this enduring tragedy continues.