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Guterres says the brutality of Hamas can never justify Israel's "collective punishment" of Palestinians in Gaza
UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that there is no effective
protection of civilians in Gaza and urged the UN Security Council to push for
an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Guterres called
an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday after more than
17,170 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Gaza, according to the
Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.
"The
people of Gaza are staring into the abyss. The international community must do
everything possible to end their ordeal. I urge the Council to act urgently to
protect civilians and provide life-saving aid." Do not hesitate to press
for a ceasefire on the bases.
Vowing to
destroy Hamas, Israel has bombarded Gaza relentlessly and sent tanks and ground
troops since the war began on October 7 with unprecedented Hamas attacks on
southern Israel. Israel has said that Hamas members killed about 1,200 people
and took about 240 hostages, of whom 138 have not been released.
"About 130
hostages are still being held. I demand their immediate and unconditional
release, as well as their humane treatment and visits by the International
Committee of the Red Cross until they are released." Guterres said.
"At the
same time, the brutality committed by Hamas can never justify the collective
punishment of the Palestinian people."
Guterres has
invoked the rarely used Article 99 of the UN Charter to bring to the council's
attention "any matter which in his opinion threatens international peace
and security".
Deputy US
Ambassador Robert Wood told the Security Council that the US does not support
an immediate ceasefire.
"While the
United States strongly supports a lasting peace, in which both Israelis and
Palestinians can live in peace and security, we do not support calls for an
immediate ceasefire," he said.
"It will
only sow the seeds for the next war," he added.
Al Jazeera's
diplomatic editor James Bays said Guterres' invocation of Article 99 of the UN
Charter was extremely rare.
"He
[Guterres] has not done this before. In fact, it hasn't been formally requested
since 1989," Baez said, adding that it has not been requested in Syria,
Yemen or Ukraine.
'Laws of War'
After Guterres
sent the urgent letter, the UAE drafted a resolution that will be put to a
vote, said the Ecuadorian delegation, which chairs the council this month and
thus decides on scheduling matters. does.
The document
described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "catastrophic" and
called for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire," AFP news agency
reported on Thursday.
The Security
Council is due to vote later in the day on a proposed cease-fire plan, after
several other previous efforts to mediate a cease-fire have been vetoed.
The short text
also calls for the protection of civilians, the immediate and unconditional
release of all hostages held by Hamas, and humanitarian access to the Gaza
Strip.
Reporting from
UN headquarters, Al Jazeera's Kristen Salomi said an "incredibly
intense" diplomatic effort was underway.
"The U.S.
position has not changed. The U.S. still believes the best way to get more aid
to Gaza is through the quiet negotiations that are underway with Israel and
other partners in the region.
"The
diplomatic efforts at the United Nations have been incredibly intense," he
said, explaining that Guterres was speaking to key actors in the region during
the meeting.
Dozens of
people were killed in Israeli attacks.
Vast areas of Gaza
have become barren. About 80 percent of the population has been displaced, the
United Nations says, and they face shortages of food, fuel, water and medicine,
as well as the risk of disease.
Guterres said
international humanitarian law includes the duty to protect civilians and
observe the principles of non-discrimination, proportionality and precaution.
"The laws
of war also require that the essential needs of civilians be met, including
facilitating the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid," he added.
On Friday, the
Health Ministry reported that 40 people were killed in Israeli strikes near
Gaza City and "dozens" of others in Jabalia and Khan Yunis.
The Israeli
army told residents of Jabalia, Shujaiya and Zaytoun districts of Gaza City to
move to the west.
In the
Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces shot dead six Palestinians on
Friday, the region's health ministry said.
(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)
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