UN Chief Urges Immediate Reopening of Gaza Crossings Amid Humanitarian Crisis

Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has called for the immediate and unconditional reopening of all crossings in the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian aid to enter, following the escalation of the humanitarian crisis in the region. He emphasized that humanitarian assistance must reach civilians in need without any obstacles.

Guterres also announced that in the past year, 136 UN staff members have lost their lives while performing their duties. According to him, 80 of these individuals were working within the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) operations in the Gaza Strip.

The UN chief described this number as unprecedented, stating that such a level of casualties among UN personnel has never been seen in the organization’s history. He called targeting UN forces and peacekeepers a blatant violation of international law and stressed the necessity of ensuring the security of aid workers.

Meanwhile, the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Israeli regime has suspended the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip until further notice. This move comes after aid had already been entering the area in a limited and trickling manner.

International organizations have repeatedly warned that restrictions on the entry of food, medicine, and other vital supplies have further worsened the situation for civilians. Despite commitments made within the framework of a ceasefire, aid delivery continues to face serious obstacles, and concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis in the strip persist.