Antonio Guterres said “the grievances of the Palestinian people are legitimate and long” (File)
Cairo, Egypt:
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. He stated that the situation in Gaza is a “humanitarian catastrophe” with thousands dead and over a million displaced. Guterres made the plea during a meeting in Cairo attended by the leaders of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
The conflict began on October 7 when Hamas killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel retaliated with a bombing campaign that has killed over 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, and disrupted essential supplies.
Guterres acknowledged the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people but condemned the “reprehensible assault by Hamas” on Israeli civilians. He emphasized that such attacks should never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.
King Abdullah II of Jordan also called for an immediate end to the war on Gaza and criticized the global silence on Palestinian suffering. He expressed frustration with the perception that Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli lives and stated that international law and human rights should apply without boundaries of race, religion, or borders.
The summit in Cairo took place as the first convoy of aid trucks reached southern Gaza. Guterres stressed the need for increased aid and continuous delivery to meet the worsening humanitarian situation. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi asserted that justice is the only solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Palestinians must realize their legitimate rights to self-determination and an independent state.
Mahmud Abbas reiterated his call for a two-state solution and an end to Israel’s occupation. He warned against a forced displacement of Palestinians, referring to it as a “second Nakba.” Egypt and Jordan, who have normalized relations with Israel, played a crucial role as mediators between Israeli and Palestinian officials.
Turkey’s foreign minister, Hakan Fidan, called for the current conflict to become an opportunity for a just and lasting peace instead of a regional conflagration. He condemned unconditional military aid to Israel, which he believes perpetuates the occupation. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan criticized the UN Security Council’s failure to pass a resolution for a ceasefire due to a US veto.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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