UN Secretary General Calls on Hamas to Release Hostages and Israel to Open Gaza

The secretary general of the UN, Antonio Guterressent a strong message to both Hamas like Israel so that the former release the hostages they are holding hostage and the latter allow the arrival of humanitarian aid to the Strip. Loop.

“Each of these objectives is valid in itself. They should not become bargaining chips and should be implemented because that is the right thing to do.”Guterres said in a statement.

The Portuguese politician has been one of the most prominent voices in calling on Israel to open the Gaza Strip to allow the passage of humanitarian aid.

The enclave, where more than two million people live, has been completely blocked since October 7, subjected to constant bombing by Israeli forces and in suspense over the possibility of a ground invasion by Israel, which has refused to allow the entry of humanitarian aid until the Hamas hostages are released.

In his message, Guterres recalled that the United Nations has food, medicine and fuel available in Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank, and that it can bring them to the Gaza Strip in a matter of hours if the passage of its teams is assured.

Meanwhile, the United States is working with Canada and other countries to get Egypt, which controls the only border crossing not under Israeli rule, to allow the departure of hundreds of foreigners and Palestinians with passports from other countries, including American citizens and Europeans.

Egypt has made the opening of the Rafah crossing conditional on allowing humanitarian aid to enter the enclave.

This Sunday, while traveling in the area, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, assured that the step “it will open” to facilitate the arrival of humanitarian aid to trapped Palestinians, and announced the appointment of a special envoy for humanitarian affairs in the Middle East who will be in charge of coordinating the arrival of humanitarian aid to the Strip.