UN Chief Antonio Guterres calls for end to Gaza war

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday in New York, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a plea to the leaders of Hamas and Israel, who are now engaged in rigorous discussions aimed at reaching a ceasefire accord.

He said, “For the sake of the people of Gaza, for the sake of the hostages and their families in Israel and for the sake of the region and the wider world, to reach an agreement. I strongly encourage the Government of Israel and the Hamas leadership to reach an agreement.”

Mr Guterres expressed fear that without an agreement, “the war, with all its consequences both in Gaza and across the region, will worsen exponentially.”

The current conflicts have been going on for about seven months, since the vicious attacks against Israel that were spearheaded by Hamas. 

In recent weeks, there have been airstrikes on the southern Gazan district of Rafah, where over 1.2 million Palestinians are currently seeking refuge due to limited access to food, medical care, and other services, as well as a lack of safe places to go. 

A military attack, according to Mr. Guterres, "would be an unbearable escalation, killing thousands more civilians and forcing hundreds of thousands of people to flee." 

Moreover, it would be catastrophic for Gaza's Palestinian population and have grave consequences for the occupied West Bank and the entire region.

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