Israel’s assaults in Gaza since Oct. 7 are unparalleled and unprecedented, U.N. Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres stated Monday.
“What is obvious is that we now have had in a number of weeks hundreds of kids killed, so that is what issues,” Antonio Guterres stated in New York whereas presenting a brand new U.N. environmental report. “We’re witnessing a killing of civilians that’s unparalleled and unprecedented in any battle since I’m secretary common.”
It is very important remodel the tragedy into a chance, Guterres stated, including: “It’s important that after the conflict we transfer in a decided, and reversible strategy to a two-state resolution.”
He additionally stated he has been “very clear” in denouncing violations of worldwide humanitarian regulation and violations of the safety of civilians.
Requested why he has not referred to as Israeli assaults “conflict crimes,” Guterres stated he didn’t have a “mandate” to take action.
The Gaza Strip has been beneath heavy bombardment for the reason that Palestinian group Hamas launched a shock offensive towards Israel on Oct. 7.
Since Israel started its assaults on Oct. 7, at the very least 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, together with over 9,000 girls and youngsters, and over 30,000 others have been injured, in accordance with the most recent figures from the Palestinian Well being Ministry.
1000’s of buildings, together with hospitals, mosques, and church buildings, have additionally been broken or destroyed in Israel’s relentless air and floor assaults on the besieged enclave.
An Israeli blockade has additionally lower Gaza off from gasoline, electrical energy, and water provides, and diminished help deliveries to a small trickle.
The Israeli loss of life toll, in the meantime, is round 1,200, primarily based on official figures.
In the meantime, Guterres additionally stated a U.N. protectorate in Gaza wouldn’t remedy the battle there, calling as a substitute for a “transition interval” involving Arab nations and america and resulting in a two-state resolution.
Guterres stated it was “essential to have the ability to remodel this tragedy into a chance” – which, for him, meant shifting “in a decided and irreversible strategy to a two-state resolution.”
This implies, after the present conflict between Israel and Hamas fighters in Gaza ends, “a strengthened Palestinian Authority, assuming tasks in Gaza,” he stated.
However the Palestinian Authority can’t go into Gaza backed by Israeli tanks, he added — which means the “worldwide group must look right into a transition interval.”
“I don’t suppose {that a} UN protectorate in Gaza is an answer,” nonetheless, Guterres stated.
As a substitute, he referred to as for a “multi-stakeholder strategy” that may see the U.S. act because the “principal guarantor” of Israel’s safety, whereas Arab nations are “important” to assist Palestinians.
“All people wants to return collectively to create the situations for the transition, permitting for a strengthened Palestinian Authority to imagine tasks in Gaza,” and from there to a two-state resolution, he stated.
Guterres additionally once more denounced the killing of civilians – particularly youngsters – in Gaza as Israel wages a relentless air and floor marketing campaign in retaliation for the October 7 assaults by Hamas.
For seven years now he has printed a “listing of disgrace” of events to armed battle who commit grave violations towards youngsters. Israel’s absence from the listing has beforehand been criticized by human rights organizations.
With out saying whether or not that will change this yr, Guterres put the variety of youngsters killed in Gaza into stark context.
Within the “disgrace” stories, the best variety of youngsters killed in a single yr by one actor was the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2017-2018, adopted by the Syrian authorities and its allies earlier than 2020. Each instances the tally was within the lots of.
“With out coming into into discussing the accuracy of the numbers that have been printed by de facto authorities in Gaza, what is obvious is that we now have had in a number of weeks hundreds of kids killed,” Guterres advised reporters.
“We’re witnessing a killing of civilians that’s unparalleled and unprecedented in any battle since I’m Secretary-Common.”