UN Chief on Israel/Palestine Crisis - Media Stakeout | Security Council | United Nations

"This Sunday marks six months since Hamas launched its abhorrent terror attacks in Israel. The 7th of October is a day of pain for Israel and the world," Guterres said.

Israel must make meaningful changes in the way it is fighting in Gaza to avoid civilian casualties while also undergoing “a true paradigm shift” in lifesaving aid delivery, he stressed.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he is “deeply troubled” by reports that the Israeli military’s bombing campaign includes Artificial Intelligence as a tool in the identification of targets, resulting in a high level of civilian casualties. He reiterated, “no part of life and death decisions which impact entire families should be delegated to the cold calculation of algorithms.

The Secretary-General spoke to reporters today (04 Apr) in New York as Sunday (7 Apr) marks six months since Hamas launched its terror attacks in Israel.

Guteress said, “the 7th of October is a day of pain for Israel and the world.”

The United Nations, and himself personally, mourn with Israelis for the 1,200 people, including many women and children, who were killed in cold blood.

He said, “nothing can justify the horror unleashed by Hamas on October 7th.”

The Secretary-General once again condemned the use of sexual violence, torture, injuring and kidnapping of civilians, the firing of rockets towards civilian targets, and the use of human shields.

He called for the unconditional release of all the hostages still held by Hamas and other armed groups, adding that “until then, they must be treated humanely with visits and assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross.”

Over the last six months, the UN chief said that the Israeli military campaign has brought relentless death and destruction to Palestinians in Gaza – with more than 32,000 people reportedly killed and more than 75,000 injured – the vast majority women and children.

Lives are shattered. Respect for international humanitarian law is in tatters, Guterres said.

The Secretary-General said, “More than half the population – over a million people – are facing catastrophic hunger. Children in Gaza today are dying for lack of food and water. This is incomprehensible, and entirely avoidable.”

“Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” he highlighted.

The UN chief also said that the war in Gaza is the deadliest of conflicts – for civilians, for aid workers, for journalists, for health workers, and for our own colleagues.

Some 196 humanitarian aid workers – including more than 175 members of UN staff – have been killed. The vast majority were serving UNRWA, the backbone of all relief efforts in Gaza. Others include colleagues from the World Health Organization and the World Food Programme – as well as humanitarians from Doctors without Borders, the Red Crescent, and just a few days ago World Central Kitchen.

“An information war has added to the trauma -- obscuring facts and shifting blame,” Guterres said, adding that “denying international journalists entry into Gaza is allowing disinformation and false narratives to flourish.”

The Secretary-General also said, “We honour all humanitarian workers who have been killed in this conflict, and pledge to remember their commitment and sacrifice.”

He continued, “Following this week’s appalling killing of seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen, the Israeli government has acknowledged mistakes and announced disciplinary measures. But the essential problem is not who made the mistakes, it is the military strategy and procedures in place that allow for those mistakes to multiply time and time again.”

“Fixing those failures requires independent investigations and meaningful change on the ground,” the UN chief reiterated.

Guterres also said, “In the aftermath of this tragedy, the United Nations was informed by the Israeli government of its intention to allow a meaningful increase in humanitarian aid distributed in Gaza.”

“I sincerely hope that these intentions are effectively and quickly materialized because the situation in Gaza is absolutely desperate,” he reiterated, adding that “dramatic humanitarian conditions require a quantum leap in the delivery of life-saving aid -- a true paradigm shift.”

The Secretary-General repeated his urgent appeals for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, the protection of civilians, and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.”

Guterres concluded, “Six months on, we are at the brink: of mass starvation; of regional conflagration; of a total loss of faith in global standards and norms. It’s time to step back from that brink – to silence the guns – to ease the horrible suffering -- and to stop a potential famine before it is too late.”

Press Release: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-04-05/secretary-generals-press-encounter-gaza-scroll-down-for-arabic