UN Chief's Press Briefing on Israel-Palestine Crisis - 100 days | United Nations

The weekend marked 100 days since the 7 October Hamas attacks and the start of the conflict in Gaza. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will speak to reporters about the conflict.

100 days since the start of the conflict in Israel and Palestine, Secretary-General António Guterres today (15 Jan) demanded the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.” At the same time, he said, “the onslaught on Gaza by Israeli forces over these 100 days has unleashed wholesale destruction and levels of civilian killings at a rate that is unprecedented during my years as Secretary-General.”

Guterres said hostages “must be treated humanely and allowed to receive visits and assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross,” and “accounts of sexual violence committed by Hamas and others on October 7th must be rigorously investigated and prosecuted.”

He said, “nothing can justify the deliberate killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians – or the launching of rockets towards civilian targets.”

Noting that the “vast majority” of those killed in Gaza are women and children, he said, “nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

The Secretary-General also warned about the regional implications of the conflict. He said, “the cauldron of tensions in the occupied West Bank is boiling over with heightened violence compounding an already dire fiscal crisis for the Palestinian Authority. Tensions are also sky-high in the Red Sea and beyond – and may soon be impossible to contain.”

Guterres expressed “serious concerns” about daily exchanges of fire across the Blue Line, which “risks triggering a broader escalation between Israel and Lebanon and profoundly affecting regional stability.”

He called on parties to “stop playing with fire across the Blue Line, de-escalate, and bring hostilities to an end in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701.”

The Secretary-General said, “we cannot see in Lebanon what we are seeing in Gaza. And we cannot allow what has been happening in Gaza to continue.”

Guterres called for immediate humanitarian ceasefire as well as rapid, safe, unhindered, expanded and sustained humanitarian access into and across Gaza.

[MsHumble]

Thank you Mr. António Guterres for following ⚖️ !
God bless those who feed the GOOD WITHIN. 😢

[unathimichaelmxaku]

What is the purpose of this UN if no one is obeying it's laws.

[christinegiannaras]

This war has to stop!
It is heart breaking!

[arcasb]

After 100 days of talking, it is time for action.

[BwhoUr]

Breaking the rules (Lawlessness) of war, and genocide is absolutely called Lawlessness!

[AherofAfrica-]

“We have the means and the capacity to deal with our problems, if only we can find the political will." - Kofi Annan 🇺🇳

[tka-tpa-prapatankalisari]

👩🏼‍🎓🇺🇳
"One of the most important lessons I learnt in my life of struggle for freedom and peace is that in any conflict there comes a point when neither side can claim to be right and the other wrong, no matter how much that might have been the case at the start of a conflict."
~Nelson Mandela
during a video message for the signing of the Geneva Accord, December 2003

[NoirEdin]

With all respect to you Mr. President of UN, Unfortunately, The role of the United Nations was abolished by the USA administrations. The United Nations no longer has a significant role!.

[AherofAfrica-]

"Peace must be sought, above all, because it is the condition for every member of the human family to live a life of dignity and security." - Kofi Annan 🇺🇳

[Traveller]

Would the UN consider publishing a full list of ALL UN and Security Council resolutions that Israel has ignored over all these years? Name and shame, please. So sorry to hear that even this one — for which huge compromises were made in order to get US support — is also not being implemented.

[thebha]

so this message proves that South Africa was not exaggerating the situation in court, and the claims are not lies. This is overkill, no self defense. and also give them back their land and freedom of movement.

[khalidmehmood-ljxg]

Both sides are suffering from war please respect humanity ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[iMustaphaa]

It is disgusting to see how Isael successfully made this man to keep singing about 7 October as if that is the day this whole crisis starts!

[tka-tpa-prapatankalisari]

👩🏼‍🎓🇺🇳
“Our people have the right to hope, the right to a future, the right to life itself. No power on this earth can destroy the thirst for human dignity. Our land cries out for peace. We will only achieve it through adherence to democratic principles and respect for the rights of all.”
~Nelson Mandela

[TheGibnem]

Mr. António Guterres, you are a decent human and an honest politician in a time where honest politicians are almost non existing. Thank you!

[CATUC]

Put people in power who love children, the future, and want to keep them alive❤

[lennym]

And Israel must also release it's thousands of Palestinian hostages...

[makimomoo]

The UN needs to become reformed. In particular, the structure and voting power of the security council needs to be revised. The power of the veto vote needs to be removed.

[John-gvs]

Judging by the empty seats what he has to say is of no consequence for the media, they have their own narratives—but at least he is saying what needs to be said.

[marianababes]

Powerful speech ! Empty seats ! Where it’s everyone ?