RAFAH, (PIC)
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for flooding the Gaza Strip with real life-saving assistance, emphasizing that the time has come for a “humanitarian” ceasefire in Gaza.
Guterres stated in a press conference held on the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing on Saturday, adjacent to the Gaza Strip, “There are long queues of trucks waiting in Rafah, and on the opposite side, there are people suffering from hunger. We must not give up and do everything in our power to ensure humanity prevails in Gaza.”
He added, “I represent the majority of voices in the international community calling for a cessation of hostilities and the entry of aid into Gaza.”
Guterres demanded that Israel make a firm commitment to unrestricted access of humanitarian goods throughout Gaza and the release of hostages.
Guterres said he looks forward to continuing to work with Egypt to facilitate the entry of aid and deeply appreciates their full engagement in supporting the people of Gaza.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations arrived today in El-Arish, Egypt, near the Gaza Strip, where he visited wounded Palestinians at the city’s hospital.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for Guterres, stated in a previous press conference that the Secretary-General would meet with UN humanitarian workers on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border.
Guterres will then travel to Jordan, where he will visit facilities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and have an iftar meal with Palestinian refugees and UN staff in the capital, Amman, according to the same source.
The Israeli occupation forces have been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in tens of thousands of civilian casualties, mostly children and women, as well as massive destruction, according to Palestinian and international data.
