UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced profound shock and concern over the severe levels of killing, destruction, and civilian suffering in Northern Gaza. The ongoing Israeli military offensive, purportedly aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping, has left thousands of civilians trapped, injured, and in desperate need of aid, according to his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.
Civilian Suffering and Escalating Crisis
Dujarric highlighted Guterres’ alarm over the “unbearable suffering” of Palestinian civilians in Northern Gaza, where many are trapped under rubble, injured without access to life-saving healthcare, and facing severe shortages of food and shelter. Citing information from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, he noted that the death toll has reached the hundreds in recent weeks, and over 60,000 people have been forced to flee their homes.
Efforts to deliver essential humanitarian supplies, such as food, medicine, and shelter, have been persistently blocked by Israeli authorities, except for a few rare allowances. This blockage endangers countless lives, worsening the already dire situation. In light of this, Guterres renewed his calls “for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and accountability under international law.”
Strangling Blockade
Gaza’s Civil Defense spokesperson, Mahmoud Basal, condemned Israel’s strict blockade on more than 100,000 Palestinians in areas such as Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahia in Northern Gaza. In a statement on Sunday, he noted that these areas have been completely cut off from essential resources, with “not a drop of water or a loaf of bread” entering Northern Gaza for 22 days.
Basal accused the Israeli military of committing acts of ethnic cleansing in Northern Gaza, killing anyone attempting to deliver aid to the besieged population suffering from severe shortages of water, medicine, and food. He urged international organizations to take immediate action to save the lives of these stranded Palestinians.
Unprecedented Bombardment
The Israeli military launched an intense bombardment on Jabalia and Northern Gaza on October 5, aiming to seize control of the area and displace its residents, according to local reports. The conflict, fueled by U.S. support, began on October 7, 2023, leading to over 143,000 Palestinian casualties, including thousands of children and women, and more than 10,000 missing persons amid widespread devastation and famine. This situation is now regarded as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Israel has continued its military campaign, disregarding UN Security Council resolutions for an immediate end to the conflict. The International Court of Justice has also ordered measures to prevent genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, yet Tel Aviv has shown no signs of halting the attacks.
