Antonio Guterres tells reporters at the UN’s headquarters in New York that it would be a mistake to judge the effectiveness of the humanitarian aid operation in Gaza based on the number of trucks that enter the enclave.
“The real problem is that the way Israel is conducting its offensive is creating massive obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid inside Gaza,” he said.
“An effective aid operation in Gaza requires security, staff who can work in safety, logistical capacity, and the resumption of commercial activity. These four elements do not exist,” he continued, urging Israel to take measures that would remove barriers in the way of aid distribution.
He once again condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, but underscored that “these violations of international humanitarian law can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, and do not free Israel from its obligations under International law”.
Guterres said that he hopes the resolution just passed in the Security Council will begin to improve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but that “much more needs to be done”.
Source: AlJazeera
