United Nations, September 28 . At the opening of the meeting of the United Nations Security Council, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern amid the war in Gaza. He said that international human rights law has been torn to shreds during the war in Gaza.
Guterres said on Friday that the murder rate there is higher than any rate seen during his tenure. Guterres said, “The speed and scale of murder and destruction in Gaza has never been seen in the past years as my Secretary-General. No basis can justify giving collective punishment to the Palestinian people.”
He also spoke about the Israeli attacks on Beirut on Friday. He warned that the war in Lebanon could become even more fierce by involving external powers. He has appealed to both sides to agree on the proposed temporary ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border.
He said, “We need a ceasefire now. We cannot bear the burden of endless negotiations like Gaza.”
The UN Secretary-General said, “We must avoid a regional war at all costs. Gaza remains the epicentre of violence. Gaza is of utmost importance in ending it.”
The humanitarian system is in crisis. 226 of our compatriots have been killed, many of them with their families. I demand an investigation and accountability for these killings. At the same time, violence continues in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Nearly 700 Palestinians and 14 Israelis have been killed since October 7. This is the largest number of casualties on both sides in the last two decades. Construction of new settlements, land confiscation, demolitions and violence between settlers all continue.”
He said, “The Advisory Opinion of the International Court has found that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal. Israel has an obligation to end it soon.”
He further said, “Meanwhile, Israeli authorities continue to prevent and limit international media from reporting from the occupied Palestinian territory. International media outlets are the eyes and ears of the world. Journalists should be able to do their work everywhere.”
