UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at a press conference at UN headquarters in New York on Friday, he noted that while famine has been temporarily averted, conditions remain extremely fragile. Around 1.6 million people in Gaza—over 75% of the population—face acute food insecurity and serious malnutrition risks.
Temporary Gains and Ongoing Threats
Guterres highlighted that recent increases in humanitarian and commercial food deliveries have temporarily mitigated the risk of widespread famine. “Famine has been pushed back. Far more people are able to access the food they need to survive,” he said. However, he warned that these gains remain “fragile and highly precarious.”
The UN chief also pointed out that in more than half of Gaza, Israeli troops remain deployed, rendering farmland and entire neighbourhoods inaccessible. Ongoing strikes and hostilities continue to escalate civilian casualties and place humanitarian teams in grave danger.
Ceasefire Phase Two and Peace Process Prospects
Guterres criticised Israel’s refusal to move forward with the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan, which is contingent upon the return of the final deceased hostage. “It is essential to move to phase two, and there should be no pretext to avoid it,” he said. He added that full implementation of the ceasefire—and the broader peace process—is critical.
West Bank Situation and International Law
Turning to the West Bank, Guterres warned that conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Palestinians continue to face escalating Israeli settler violence, land seizures, home demolitions, and severe movement restrictions. Tens of thousands have been displaced in northern West Bank operations.
He emphasised that provisional measures indicated by the International Court of Justice are binding and must be implemented. Guterres also reaffirmed support for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), describing its role as “indispensable in serving the Palestinian people.”
Strategic Implications and Humanitarian Perspective
Guterres characterised the crisis as “born of human decisions” and stressed the urgency of ending prolonged suffering. He called for a horizon of hope for Palestinians, full implementation of the ceasefire, and an end to the cycle of violence.
From an analytical perspective, his remarks underline that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank is not limited to food shortages or infrastructure constraints. Long-term resolution is closely tied to political decisions and full adherence to international law. Achieving stability in both regions requires not only consolidating the ceasefire but also advancing the broader peace process.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacu...
Two people were killed and around 40 injured when a tram derailed in central Milan on Friday (27 February), a spokesperson for the local fire service ...
Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), issued a statement on Friday (27 February) calling on Ankara to ...
Colombia’s commerce minister, Diana Marcela Morales, has said she will propose raising tariffs on certain Ecuadorian goods from 30% to 50%, as a tra...
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Friday (27 February) that he had no knowledge of the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and would not have...
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacuating diplomatic staff amid fears of further instability.
Speaking during a closed-door deposition in New York on Thursday (February), former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she did not “recall” ever meeting the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and had “no knowledge of his crimes”.
Pakistan’s declaration of an “open war” with Afghanistan must be understood in the context of months of escalating violence, regional analysts have said, describing the latest developments as a significant shift in the nature of the conflict.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue, offering Tehran’s assistance to facilitate understanding between its eastern neighbours.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacuating diplomatic staff amid fears of further instability.
The situation in Cuba was heating up and called for restraint following a deadly incident involving a Florida-registered speedboat off the coast of the Caribbean island, the Kremlin said on Thursday (26 February).
Another shipment of petroleum products from Azerbaijan to Armenia has been dispatched, with 39 rail tank cars carrying 4,500 tonnes of diesel fuel sent today, Report informs.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, arrived in Geneva and may hold talks with U.S. officials, according to the RIA news agency.
Ankara has rejected media reports claiming it plans to deploy military forces into Iranian territory in the event of a U.S. attack on the Islamic republic.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacuating diplomatic staff amid fears of further instability.
Two people were killed and around 40 injured when a tram derailed in central Milan on Friday (27 February), a spokesperson for the local fire service said.
Colombia’s commerce minister, Diana Marcela Morales, has said she will propose raising tariffs on certain Ecuadorian goods from 30% to 50%, as a trade dispute between the neighbouring countries intensifies.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Friday (27 February) that he had no knowledge of the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and would not have flown on the late convicted sex offender’s plane had he had any inkling of his activities.
Some of Iran's most highly enriched uranium, close to weapons grade, was stored in an underground area of its nuclear site in Isfahan, the UN nuclear watchdog said in a confidential report sent to member states on Friday (27 February).
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment