The Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres expressed today Tuesday in the Security Council deep concern for the “clear violations” of international humanitarian law in Gaza, insisting on an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” on the 18th day of the war between Israel and Hamas.

“I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are seeing in Gaza. Let us be clear: no party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law.” he stated, without however naming Israel.

“To ease this immense pain, to facilitate the distribution of aid in a more secure manner, and to facilitate the release of the hostages, I repeat my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire“, he said in front of ministers and diplomats of dozens of countries at the UN headquarters.

“It is important to also recognize that Hamas attacks did not happen in a vacuum”, Guterres said. “The Palestinian people ehas suffered 56 years of suffocating occupation. They have seen their land steadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence. their economy suffocated. their people were displaced and their houses demolished. Their hopes for a political solution to their woes have vanished,” he pointed out.

Guterres clarified that “the grievances of the Palestinian people they cannot justify the horrific attacks by Hamas. And these horrific attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people”.

International aid began trickling in from Saturday via Egypt though in very insufficient quantitiesaccording to the UN, in this impoverished area that is being bombarded by Israel after the bloody attack by Hamas on October 7.

“It’s a drop of help in an ocean of need,” warned Antonio Guterres in a rarely so packed Security Council chamber.

“Besides, the UN’s available fuel reserves in Gaza will run out in a few days. It would be another disaster. Without fuel, aid cannot be distributed, hospitals have no electricity, and water cannot be purified or pumped. “.

“Even in this hour of grave and immediate danger, we must not lose sight of the only realistic foundation for lasting peace and stability: a two-state solution” insisted the UN Secretary General.