U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Urges Israel to Boost Aid Access to Gaza Strip
In a heartfelt plea, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Israel to swiftly increase aid access to the Gaza Strip, describing the situation in the Palestinian enclave as “absolutely desperate” after six months of war.
Israel has approved the reopening of the Erez crossing into northern Gaza and temporary use of Ashdod port in southern Israel following pressure from U.S. President Joe Biden to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Guterres emphasized the urgent need for aid, stating that over a million people in Gaza are facing catastrophic hunger, with children dying due to lack of food and water.
Global outrage escalated after an Israeli airstrike killed seven people working for the U.S.-based food charity World Central Kitchen. The U.N. reported that at least 196 humanitarian workers have been killed in the ongoing conflict, with Guterres calling for independent investigations into these deaths.
Expressing concern over reports of the Israeli military using artificial intelligence to identify bombing targets in Gaza, Guterres stressed that decisions impacting entire families should not be left to algorithms. He also highlighted the devastating impact of the Israeli military campaign on Palestinians in Gaza, with thousands of lives lost and international humanitarian law disregarded.
As the situation in Gaza remains dire, Guterres urged Israel to take meaningful and measurable actions to address the humanitarian crisis and prevent further loss of life.