UN Chief Warns Gaza Crisis Could Breach International Law

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has described the Gaza crisis as “appalling and apocalyptic,” warning of potential violations of international law. Speaking through a representative at a Cairo humanitarian aid conference, Guterres urged global action to achieve sustainable peace in Gaza and the Middle East.

The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack on southern Israel, has led to devastating casualties. Israeli officials report 1,208 deaths, mostly civilians, while Gaza’s health ministry, supported by UN figures, reports over 44,000 fatalities.

Guterres highlighted dire conditions in Gaza, citing rampant malnutrition, a collapsing health system, and rising child amputations. Humanitarian aid remains critically limited, with just 65 daily aid trucks compared to pre-war levels of 500.

The UN chief called for immediate international action, stressing the urgent need to deliver aid and prevent further humanitarian collapse