PNN – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres once again called for the immediate return of the ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of prisoners, and unhindered access to humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, the UN Secretary-General stated that he is deeply concerned about the human toll of the escalating conflict in Gaza and condemns the deaths of more than a thousand people, including women and children, since the collapse of the ceasefire.
Guterres said: The extensive Israeli bombardment and ground operations in the past two days alone have led to widespread destruction and the displacement of more than 100,000 Palestinians from Rafah, most of whom have been displaced multiple times and with few resources.
The UN Secretary-General added that he was shocked by the Israeli army’s attack on a medical and emergency convoy on March 23, which resulted in the deaths of 15 medical and aid workers in Gaza.
Guterres added: Under international humanitarian law, medical personnel and emergency and relief workers must always be protected by all parties to the conflict. Since October 2023, at least 408 aid workers have been killed in Gaza, 280 of whom were UN staff.
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The UN Secretary-General paid tribute to all aid workers killed in the conflict and called for a full, thorough and independent investigation into the incidents, saying: All parties must always respect international law. Civilians must be respected and protected, and the blockade of life-saving aid must end.
Guterres once again condemned the October 7 operation, saying: Nothing can justify the October 7 attacks, nor the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
The UN Secretary-General added: I reiterate my call for the immediate restoration of the ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Gaza.
Israel, with the support of the United States, launched a devastating war against the residents of the Gaza Strip from October 7, 2023, to January 19, 2025, which left widespread destruction and many human casualties, but it did not achieve its stated goals of destroying the Hamas movement and freeing its prisoners.
On January 19, 2025, a ceasefire was established in the Gaza Strip based on an agreement between Hamas and Israel. The Israeli army, violating the terms of the ceasefire, resumed its military aggression against the Gaza Strip.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the number of martyrs in the Gaza war since October 7 has reached 50,399, and the number of injured has reached 114,583.