(AFP, Beijing, 18th) United Nations Secretary-General Guterres said today that the raids launched by the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas against Israel cannot be used as a legitimate reason for “collective punishment” of the Palestinians, calling on all parties to immediately ceasefire.
At an economic forum in China, Antonio Guterres condemned Hamas’s raid on Israel on the 7th, which claimed more than 1,400 lives, as a “terrorist act” that has no legitimacy at all.
“However, the raids do not justify collective punishment of the Palestinians,” he said.
He called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, reiterating what he called “two urgent humanitarian demands.”
Guterres called on Hamas to “immediately and unconditionally release the hostages.” He was referring to the at least 199 hostages taken by Hamas during the deadliest raid in Israel’s history.
Guterres also urged Israel to “immediately allow unrestricted access to humanitarian aid to meet the most basic needs of the people in Gaza,” adding that the vast majority of the people in Gaza are women and children.
“I hereby call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to provide sufficient time and space to help achieve both of my demands and to alleviate the immense human suffering we are witnessing,” he said.
“Too many lives and entire regions hang by a thread.”
#Urgently #calling #ceasefire #United #Nations #Palestinians #punished #collectively #Hamas #attack #Israel
2023-10-18 07:20:07
