In a message to the UN International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East 2024 Friday in Geneva, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the Israeli army's killing of journalists in Gaza "unacceptable" and demanded that they be protected from the genocide perpetrated by "Israel".

He noted that the war on Gaza finished its first year last month and that this symposium is being held under "profoundly difficult circumstances" owing to violations extending to Lebanon.

Guterres emphasized that the deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank, including the eastern part of al-Quds, Israeli violence, settlement construction, and increased settler attacks all undermine the possibility of achieving a two-state solution.

The Secretary-General attacked "Israel's" prolonged prohibition on international media visiting Gaza, stating that journalists in Gaza "have been killed at a level unseen in any conflict."

He noted that journalists in the occupied West Bank have also been murdered or maimed by Israeli forces, reiterating his call for an end to the Israeli attacks and occupation and saying it is "high time" for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon along with the release of captives and delivery of humanitarian aid, 

Guterres' comments come as the Gaza Government Media Office reported on Friday that the number of journalists killed since the start of the genocidal war has risen to 183 martyrs.

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International organizations 'playing role of bystander to the genocide'

Earlier, the Government Media Office in Gaza expressed that international organizations operating in the sector have been negligent in performing their duties and are handling the dangerous conditions with indifference and lack of concern, which encourages the IOF to persist in their brutal massacres against the Palestinians.

The Office expressed its "extreme discontent and astonishment at the serious negligence of international organizations working in Gaza in fulfilling their roles, as they treat the dangerous conditions with complete indifference, encouraging the occupation to continue its brutal massacres against civilians and the displaced, particularly in northern Gaza, especially in Jabalia and Beit Lahia."

The Office reminded international organizations of their assigned role, which involves meeting humanitarian needs and providing the necessary protection for the Palestinian people, in accordance with international humanitarian law, as civilians are subjected to killing, genocide, ethnic cleansing, extermination, burning, kidnapping, and torture by the Israeli occupation forces, without any significant action from these organizations.

It stated in its statement that international humanitarian law mandates these organizations to provide humanitarian aid, yet they have failed to provide essential needs, such as food, water, and healthcare, as the Palestinian people have been living in a state of systematic and clear starvation enforced by "Israel" for over 180 days, amid a deafening silence on behalf of the international organizations operating in Gaza.

As the Israeli aggression across the Gaza Strips remains ceaseless, five Palestinians were killed and more injured in the Israeli bombardment of several homes in al-Nuseirat, central Gaza. 

Palestinian media reported the arrival of three martyrs and a number of injuries to Al-Awda Hospital after the Israeli occupation bombarded the al-Assar family home in Nuseirat's Camp 5. 

Moreover, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza reported the launch of heavy fire from Israeli quadcopters on the al-Daawa school, northeast of the al-Nuseirat refugee camp. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes were also launched on the camp's northwestern area. 

In easternmost Deir al-Balah, our correspondent reported an Israeli airstrike targeting Wadi al-Salqa.