Situation in Gaza has reached a dangerous new low
The News Freedom
Chandigarh, October 14
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to “reconsider” its warning on Saturday, according to The New York Times. “ Thursday night’s order by the Israel Defense Forces to Palestinians in Gaza to evacuate their homes within 24 hours was dangerous and deeply troubling. Any demand for a mass evacuation on extremely short notice could have devastating humanitarian consequences, United Nations Secretary-General said in his opinion published in The New York Times.
“ As secretary general of the United Nations, I appeal to Israeli authorities to reconsider. We have approached a moment of calamitous escalation, and find ourselves at a critical crossroads. It is imperative that all parties — and those with influence over them — do everything possible to avoid fresh violence or spillover of the conflict to the West Bank and the wider region.” Guterres said.
Meanwhile in a press release, the UN Secretary-General said that the situation in Gaza has reached a dangerous new low. The horrific terror attacks by Hamas on Israel that killed more than 1200 people and injured thousands more last Saturday were followed by intense bombardment of Gaza that has already killed 1800 people, and injured thousands more. After days of airstrikes, the Israeli Defense Forces have ordered the Palestinians in Gaza City and its surroundings to move to the south of the territory. Moving more than one million people across a densely populated warzone to a place with no food, water, or accommodation, when the entire territory is under siege, is extremely dangerous –and in some cases, simply not possible, he added.
Giving details, he said that hospitals in the south of Gaza are already at capacity and will not be able to accept thousands of new patients from the north. The health system is on the brink of collapse. Morgues are overflowing; eleven healthcare staff have been killed while on duty; and there have been 34 attacks on health facilities in the past few days. The entire territory faces a water crisis as infrastructure has been damaged and there is no electricity to power pumps and desalination plants.
He said our United Nations staff and our partners are working around the clock to support the people of Gaza. We mourn for our colleagues who have been killed –a number that is increasing by the day. I have been in constant contact with the leaders across the region, focusing on ways to reduce suffering and prevent further dangerous escalation in the West Bank or elsewhere in the region, especially in southern Lebanon.
The exchanges of fire across the Blue Line is very worrying. It must stop. We need immediate humanitarian access throughout Gaza, so that we can get fuel, food and water to everyone in need. Even wars have rules.
International humanitarian law and human rights law must be respected and upheld; civilians must be protected and also never used as shields. And all hostages in Gaza must be released immediately. It is imperative that all parties – and those with influence over them – do everything possible to achieve these steps. Finally, I want to say something about the hatred that is being stoked by this terrible conflict – across the Middle East and around the world, he added.