UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued an urgent call for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, where a month-long Israeli blockade has plunged the enclave into a deepening crisis. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Guterres described dire conditions as food, fuel, and medical supplies run critically low.
"More than an entire month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaza. No food. No fuel. No medicine," Guterres said, emphasizing that international law obliges Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure civilian welfare. "Gaza is a killing field, and civilians are in an endless death loop."
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), all crossings into Gaza have remained closed since March 2, marking the longest blockade since October 2023. Relief supplies are reportedly stalled at checkpoints, exacerbating shortages amid collapsing public health infrastructure.
The secretary-general refuted claims that sufficient aid is available, stressing that "commodities are running extremely low" and demanding an independent investigation into attacks on humanitarian workers. He reiterated calls for a permanent ceasefire and the unconditional release of hostages, urging global leaders to "end the dehumanization" and prioritize civilian protection.
Guterres warned that the current trajectory is "totally intolerable in the eyes of international law," urging immediate action to restore lifesaving assistance and halt further suffering.
