UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary General António Guterres has emphasised the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza after more than 100 days of escalating violence.

“Tamp down the flames of wider war because the longer the conflict in Gaza continues, the greater the risk of escalation and miscalculation,” he warned in a statement issued on Monday evening.

He stated that “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire” was necessary to ensure an uninterrupted supply of emergency aid and to facilitate the release of prisoners.

Guterres noted that the onslaught on Gaza by Israeli forces over these 100 days “has unleashed wholesale destruction and levels of civilian killings at a rate that is unprecedented during my years as Secretary General”.

He pointed out that “the vast majority of those killed are women and children, adding that “nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people”.

No one is safe

Stressing the need to end the hostilities, he said: “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is beyond words. Nowhere and no one is safe.”

Guterres expressed serious concern about the daily exchanges of fire across the Blue Line as well, warning of potential broader escalation affecting regional stability. “Stop playing with fire across the Blue Line, de-escalate, and bring hostilities to an end in accordance with (relevant) Security Council resolutions,” he said.

The Blue Line refers to the border demarcation between Israel and Lebanon, established by the United Nations in 2000 following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

Earlier this month, Israel carried out a drone strike across the Blue Line to kill Hamas’s deputy chief Saleh Al Arouri, leading to regular clashes across the border.

The Secretary General reported that tens of thousands of people in northern Israel and southern Lebanon have been displaced by the fighting, and humanitarian access in Lebanon continues to be constrained. “This risks triggering a broader escalation between Israel and Lebanon and profoundly affecting regional stability,” he warned.

Guterres also condemned the Oct 7 raids by Hamas, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli prisoners and a thorough investigation into alleged sexual violence.

He underlined the challenges faced by aid workers due to ongoing Israeli bombardment and restrictions at the Gaza border. “The United Nations and our partners cannot effectively deliver humanitarian aid while Gaza is under such heavy, widespread, and unrelenting bombardment,” he said. “This endangers the lives of those who receive aid – and those who deliver it.”

Since Oct 7, 152 UN staff members have been killed in Gaza – the largest single loss of life in UN history.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2024