AhlulBayt News Agency: UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the U.S.-backed aid distribution process in Gaza, calling it unsafe and responsible for civilian deaths. He said UN-led humanitarian efforts are being severely restricted, and even aid workers are now starving.
At a press conference in New York, Guterres stated, “Searching for food in Gaza should not be a death sentence,” and emphasized that Israel, as the occupying power, is legally obligated to allow humanitarian aid.
He noted that displaced families in Gaza are now confined to less than 20% of the territory, and even these areas are under constant threat from bombings targeting tents and civilians with nowhere to go.
Guterres revealed that Israel has blocked the entry of shelter materials and fuel for three months. He warned that doctors are forced to ration medicine and ventilators, while aid workers themselves face hunger.
He added that only a small shipment of medical supplies entered Gaza earlier this week—the first UN delivery in months—highlighting the scale of the crisis.
He stressed that this limited aid is insufficient, saying, “What Gaza needs now is a surge in aid. This trickle must turn into a flood.”
Guterres called for urgent, large-scale aid delivery and condemned any operation that pushes civilians toward military zones, calling such efforts inherently unsafe and deadly.
He urged a return to proven humanitarian methods, saying, “There is no need to reinvent the wheel with dangerous schemes. The solution is already in our hands.”
He emphasized that the UN has a well-established plan based on humanitarian principles and trust, which succeeded during the last ceasefire and must be allowed to function again.
Guterres called on Israel to respect the UN Charter, allow aid access, and ensure civilians receive assistance wherever they are.
He reiterated that the only path to lasting peace is through a two-state solution, concluding with a call for diplomacy and human dignity to prevail.
He also welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, calling it a hopeful development that is urgently needed.
Guterres ended by urging world leaders to find the political courage to implement a ceasefire in Gaza.
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