António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has expressed serious concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, describing it as a moral failure that challenges global conscience.
These remarks were made during a closed video session at the global meeting of Amnesty International taking place today in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.
He stated that while he condemned the attacks launched by Hamas on October 7, 2013, he rejected any justification for the subsequent escalation of violence and destruction that has persisted since then. He emphasized that the scale and magnitude of these events far exceed anything the international community has witnessed in recent times.
Guterres added, “I cannot comprehend the level of indifference and inaction we are witnessing from many in the international community, where there is a lack of compassion, truth, and humanity.”
He highlighted that not only are the residents of Gaza facing starvation, but United Nations staff members are also suffering from hunger in front of the world. He remarked, “The unimaginable conditions they face have made them so numb and exhausted that they do not even know whether they are alive or dead.”
Regarding the children in Gaza, he noted, “They have started expressing a wish to go to heaven, where they believe they might find food.”
He assured that the United Nations will continue to raise its voice at every opportunity, even though “words do not feed hungry children.”
The Secretary-General referenced United Nations statistics indicating that since May 27, more than a thousand Palestinians have been killed while attempting to secure food. He stressed that these individuals were not killed in combat but rather during moments of desperation simply trying to obtain food amidst widespread starvation.
He emphasized the urgent need for immediate and lasting ceasefire and called for the unconditional release of all hostages, alongside ensuring unhindered humanitarian access to the affected populations in Gaza. Guterres reiterated the call for urgent and irreversible steps towards a two-state solution.
He conveyed the readiness of the United Nations to take full advantage of any potential ceasefire to significantly expand humanitarian operations throughout Gaza, similar to the successful efforts made during previous ceasefire periods.
Furthermore, he noted that there are powerful forces attacking human rights and the international system established to protect and support them, including the International Criminal Court. He said, “We are in a global struggle for human dignity, human rights, and justice in a multilateral system,” as the world witnesses an increase in repressive tactics aimed at undermining respect for human rights.
The Secretary-General urged nations to continuously and globally advocate for human rights, even in unfavorable circumstances. He called for actions to combat what he termed the “tsunami of lies and hatred that poisons the digital space,” stressing that attempts to manipulate social media have become a powerful weapon in the hands of authoritarian regimes.
Guterres concluded, “We must build on the hard-won gains, including the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, by insisting on legal accountability and advocating for climate justice.”