Antonio Guterres issued a warning Tuesday, asserting that Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe has reached “beyond imagination”, with ongoing Israeli military operations and blockades wreaking havoc on civilian lives.
At a press briefing at UN headquarters in New York, Guterres described Gaza’s situation as “an offense against international conscience.” He called for an immediate ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access into this besieged enclave.
“People in Gaza are facing not just hunger but starvation. Hospitals no longer function, clean water is scarce and families live among rubble mourning the dead and fearing for their own survival,” according to Guterres. Civilians’ suffering has become unimaginable.
OCHA figures estimate that since October 2024, over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, including thousands of women and children. Over 70% of Gaza’s population has now been internally displaced; and most infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and water systems has either been completely destroyed or rendered inoperable.
The Secretary-General emphasized that humanitarian aid was being intentionally blocked or severely restricted from entering Gaza despite repeated appeals by UN agencies and aid organizations. Guterres lamented, “we are being denied access to those we are charged with protecting,” imploring all parties involved — particularly Israel — to comply with international humanitarian law.
Aid agencies like the World Food Programme and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), have issued a joint statement warning of imminent humanitarian collapse. Their workers are overwhelmed, operating in extreme danger conditions, and lacking resources needed to respond effectively to what these organizations describe as an imminent humanitarian emergency.
Israel has justified its military campaign as necessary to neutralize Hamas, which launched a deadly attack against Israeli territory last October. Officials argue that any restrictions to aid may be due to security reasons and prevent supplies being diverted to militants.
Guterres has strongly urged the Security Council and world powers to take immediate action, saying this crisis “is more than humanitarian; it is a crisis of humanity”. He called upon them to move beyond words into action quickly as people of Gaza cannot afford any further delays.
The UN has called for a humanitarian truce and mass international aid deployment as the only sustainable path to long-term peace in Palestine/Israel.