Guterres: Nowhere is safe in Gaza

Guterres made assessments regarding Gaza during a press conference he held.

Noting that there has been no significant change in the course of the war in Gaza recently and that civilians in Gaza are not effectively protected during Israel's ongoing intense bombardment and ground operations, Guterres said that more than 20 thousand Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, have lost their lives and approximately 1.9 million people have been displaced.

Pointing out that the health system in Gaza has collapsed, Guterres stated that hospitals in the south are operating at at least three times their capacity, while those in the north are barely functioning.

Referring to data shared by the World Food Programme (WFP) regarding hunger rates in Gaza, Guterres noted that nearly a quarter of Gaza's population is suffering from severe levels of hunger and that clean water is almost non-existent in the region.

Stating that the biggest obstacle to the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza is "the way Israel is conducting the offensive," Guterres said, "For aid to be distributed effectively, security must be ensured in Gaza, and we need personnel who can work in safety, logistical capacity, and the resumption of commercial activities."

Emphasizing that Israel's intense bombardment and the clashes in densely populated areas of Gaza endanger the lives of both civilians and personnel trying to distribute humanitarian aid, Guterres said, "136 of our colleagues have been killed in Gaza in 75 days. This is something we have never seen before in the history of the UN. Nowhere is safe in Gaza."

Guterres said there are not enough vehicles to distribute the humanitarian aid inside the trucks passing through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah border crossings in Gaza.

Stating that most of the vehicles in the UN fleet were left behind or destroyed when they were forcibly removed from northern Gaza, Guterres noted that Israeli authorities are not allowing additional vehicles to enter Gaza.

Drawing attention to the need for commercial life in Gaza to return to its normal flow, Guterres called on Israel to immediately lift its commercial restrictions in the region.

Guterres also underscored that, under UN resolutions, international law, and existing agreements, a two-state solution is the only path to sustainable peace.

Guterres answered journalists' questions at the press conference he held at the UN building.

Regarding whether he hoped for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the resolution adopted today by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for "urgent steps" to be taken for expanded, unhindered, and safe access to humanitarian aid in Gaza, Guterres said, "Of course I was hopeful, but that does not mean these events are happening in line with our hopes."

Pointing out that one should look at the bright side of the UNSC resolution, Guterres said, "There is a resolution, but we understand that a humanitarian ceasefire is indeed necessary if we want humanitarian aid to be delivered effectively (to Gaza)."

Stating that they support any pause that would lead to an improvement in humanitarian aid in Gaza, the Secretary-General shared the information that negotiations between the parties are ongoing on this matter.

Furthermore, noting that they believe the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people is the Palestinian Authority, Guterres assessed that conditions must be created to allow the Palestinian Authority to assume responsibility in Gaza, and that this would allow the two-state solution to become a reality.

The draft resolution demanding "urgent steps" for expanded, unhindered, and safe access to humanitarian aid in Gaza was adopted in the vote held today at the UNSC.

In the vote, 13 members voted "yes," while the US and Russia "abstained."

The vote on the draft resolution submitted by the United Arab Emirates had been postponed four times previously due to the US's opposition to the clause on "a pause in hostilities" for unhindered access to humanitarian aid.