Geline Salac

UN chief condemns 'intolerable' suffering in Gaza

A Palestinian child sits on top of sacks of flour at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) aid distribution centre in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on November 3, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Eyad Baba, AFP/File

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742313763424AFP__20241103__36LB9XD__v7__Preview__TopshotPalestinianIsraelConflictAid.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A Palestinian child sits on top of sacks of flour at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) aid distribution centre in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on November 3, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Eyad Baba, AFP/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A Palestinian child sits on top of sacks of flour at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) aid distribution centre in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on November 3, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. <em>Eyad Baba, AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>GENEVA, Switzerland -- UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said Gazans were being subjected to an &quot;intolerable level of suffering&quot; following the most intense Israeli airstrikes in Gaza since a fragile ceasefire took effect.</p><p>The strikes, by far the deadliest since the truce came into force on January 19, killed more than 400 people, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.</p><p>&quot;Unfortunately, we are witnessing a situation in which we have an intolerable level of suffering for the Palestinian people, with the air raids that killed hundreds of people,&quot; Guterres told reporters at the UN in Geneva.</p><p>&quot;We have humanitarian aid still blocked.&quot;</p><p>Guterres said it was the role of the United Nations to have the international community pressing for three &quot;essential&quot; points to be followed by Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.</p><p>&quot;First, for the ceasefire to be fully respected. Second, for humanitarian aid to have access to Gaza in an unimpeded way. And third, for the unconditional release of hostages,&quot; said Guterres.</p><p>&quot;And we will not give up on these objectives.&quot;</p><p>Israel said it had &quot;no alternative&quot; other than to resume military operations in order to bring home hostages.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/18/over-220-reported-dead-after-israel-pounds-gaza-in-most-intense-strikes-since-ceasefire-1328">READ: Over 220 reported dead after Israel pounds Gaza in most intense strikes since ceasefire</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/16/gaza-truce-talks-dogged-by-deep-divisions-0100">READ: Gaza truce talks dogged by deep divisions</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>- &#x27;Hell on Earth&#x27; -</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3m1B28Ivy3A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said resuming the war would fuel &quot;hell on Earth&quot;.</p><p>&quot;Awful scenes of civilians killed, among them children, following waves of heavy bombardment from Israeli forces overnight,&quot; the UNRWA chief said on X.</p><p>&quot;Fuelling &#x27;hell on Earth&#x27; by resuming the war will only bring more despair and suffering. A return to the ceasefire is a must.&quot;</p><p>UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was horrified by the strikes.</p><p>&quot;This will add tragedy onto tragedy,&quot; he said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;This nightmare must end immediately,&quot; Turk said, adding that &quot;the last 18 months of violence have made abundantly clear that there is no military path out of this crisis&quot;.</p><p>&quot;The only way forward is a political settlement, in line with international law. Israel&#x27;s resort to yet more military force will only heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. All those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally. The war must end permanently,&quot; Turk said.</p><p>&quot;We urge all parties with influence to do all in their power to achieve peace and avoid further suffering of civilians.&quot;</p><p>The initial phase of the ceasefire largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza triggered by Hamas&#x27;s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.</p><p>That first phase ended in early March, and the two sides have been unable to agree on the next steps.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

<p>The strikes, by far the deadliest since the truce came into force on January 19, killed more than 400 people, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.</p>

The strikes, by far the deadliest since the truce came into force on January 19, killed more than 400 people, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.