United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that Israel’s expanding military operations to seize control of Gaza City mark a dangerous new phase in the conflict and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
Speaking to journalists in New York, Guterres reiterated his call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the delivery of large-scale humanitarian aid, and the unconditional release of all hostages. He stressed that civilians are already exhausted, traumatized, and forced into repeated displacement, warning that further escalation would trap them in even greater misery.
“The use of hunger as a weapon of war must stop. Civilians must be protected, and humanitarian aid must flow without obstruction. There can be no more excuses, obstacles, or lies,” he declared.
Guterres cited back-to-back Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis as part of a relentless cycle of horror. He said Gaza is covered in rubble and bodies, with international law being consistently violated.
The UN chief stressed that the scale of destruction and death in Gaza is without parallel in recent history. He noted that famine is no longer a looming threat but a grim reality, with people dying of hunger while food, water, and healthcare systems have been deliberately crippled.
He emphasized that these conditions are the result of Israel’s calculated decisions. As the occupying power, Israel is obligated to ensure access to food, water, medicine, and other necessities for civilians. Guterres called for the urgent restoration of humanitarian access and protection of civilians, in line with binding interim orders issued by the International Court of Justice.
The UN and its partners, he added, continue to risk their lives to deliver aid in Gaza, where 366 humanitarian workers have been killed during the two-year war. He condemned the growing obstacles imposed on relief agencies, including denial or delay of operational permissions, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
Turning to the West Bank, Guterres described the situation as “deeply alarming.” He warned that Israeli military operations, settler violence, home demolitions, and discriminatory policies are fueling displacement and hardship. The approval of thousands of new settlement units in the sensitive E1 area, he said, threatens to sever the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, posing an existential threat to a two-state solution.
“Israeli settlements, including those in East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law. Israel must halt these actions immediately and honor its international obligations,” Guterres stressed.
The Secretary-General concluded by underscoring that the suffering in Gaza and the West Bank has reached intolerable levels, demanding urgent global action to uphold humanitarian law, ensure accountability, and protect the prospects for peace.
