Guterres demands to stop the “horror” in Gaza, open its land routes and protect the UN

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterrescalled this Tuesday in Jordan for the opening of all “possible” routes for the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, where the “horror” must stop immediately and where the work of the United Nations and its members must be protected. officials.

Guterres expressed this during his inaugural speech at the International Emergency Response Conference for Loop which is held in the Dead Sea region of Jordan and seeks to establish an urgent plan for the humanitarian response in the Palestinian territory under attack by Israel.

In his presentation, the secretary general of the UN expressed his support for the plan for a truce and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas presented by US President Joe Biden, and called on all parties to seize “the opportunity and reach an agreement.”

“The horror must stop. It is time for a ceasefire in parallel with an unconditional release of the hostages.(…) I call on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, and that includes the delivery of aid both to and within Gaza ”Guterres said.

In that sense, he indicated that “all routes to Gaza” must be operational and the use of “land routes is crucial.”

Since the beginning of the conflict, eight months ago, Israel has blocked aid access to Gaza and it has only entered through the Rafahbordering Egypt and now closed, or through the Kerem Shalom pass.

Guterres also noted that the safety of United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRWA) officials is “vital” to the delivery of aid, and that the parties must “ensure their safety,” in addition to requiring the use of “security and communications equipment”, in proportion to the risks involved in working in a conflict zone.

“They require immediate efforts to open steps within Loopwhich are covered in mines and unexploded ordnance”he added.

Likewise, he recalled that all civilians “must be allowed to seek their safety, and civilians and the infrastructure on which they depend must never be militarized or become targets.”

In that sense, Guterres demanded “full accountability” for “each and every one” of the 193 deaths among UNRWA personnel caused by Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA officials work in the Palestinian territory under “nightmarish conditions” and “come to work when their homes are destroyed and their loved ones killed,” he added.

“Without these brave individuals, aid operations in Gaza would collapse. UNRWA is the backbone of this humanitarian response and has suffered intolerably along with the people it helps (…) There must be full accountability for each and every one of these deaths. The attacks on staff of the UN and its facilities are unacceptable”said.

At the end of his speech, Guterres recalled that ultimately, the solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is “political” and pointed out that the only way is to make way for a “sustainable peace, based on the two States, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security.”