UN's Guterres: 'Gaza growing more desperate by the hour'
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The UN's Secretary-General calls the death toll and number of wounded in Gaza "totally unacceptable" during his four-day visit to Nepal after talks in Qatar.
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrives in Nepal. (Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
During a visit to the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday reiterated the desperate need for a ceasefire to end the "nightmare" of massacres in Palestine.
"The situation in Gaza is growing more desperate by the hour. I regret that instead of a critically needed humanitarian pause, supported by the international community, Israel has intensified its military operations," Guterres stated, calling the death tolls and wounded numbers "totally unacceptable."
"The world is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe taking place before our eyes," Guterres added. "More than two million people, with nowhere safe to go, are being denied the essentials for life –- food, water, shelter and medical care –- while being subjected to relentless bombardment. I urge all those with responsibility to step back from the brink."
His visit is expected to last four days after talks in Qatar.
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"I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief at a scale that meets the needs of the people of Gaza," he said, continuing: "We must join forces to end this nightmare for the people of Gaza, Israel and all those affected around the world, including here in Nepal."
From 'minutes' to 'hours'
Less than two days ago, Guterres declared that Gaza is confronting "an unprecedented avalanche of human suffering" because of a shortage of food, water, and electricity due to the Israeli aggression.
"I repeat my call for a humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of life-saving supplies," he said in his statement.
"Misery is growing by the minute. Without a fundamental change, the people of Gaza will face an unprecedented avalanche of human suffering," he expressed.
Guterres' statements have been infuriating the Occupation's leadership.
António Guterres: "it is important to also recognise the attack by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of occupation.. their people displaced & their homes demolished. Their hopes for a political solution.. have been vanishing" pic.twitter.com/zcnYiCXgHi
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) October 24, 2023
Earlier he said that the operations carried out by the Palestinian Resistance did not take place "in a vacuum." Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced that he canceled his meeting with Guterres after this statement.
According to a post, Cohen wrote on the social media platform X, the meeting had been canceled, as he argues there is no place for a "balanced approach" in the region since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood was launched.
