United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned Israel’s plan to take control of the Gaza City, describing the move as a “dangerous escalation” that risks further worsening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians.
According to a statement released by his spokesperson and reported by The Guardian, this decision will lead to “additional forced displacement, killings, and massive destruction,” further increasing the endless suffering of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
Guterres also emphasized in a post on the social media platform X: “I am deeply alarmed by the Israeli government’s decision to ‘take control of Gaza City.’ This is a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians. It could endanger even more lives, including those of hostages still being held. I reiterate my urgent call for a lasting ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”
This response comes following remarks from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, who stated that “the Israeli government’s plan for a full military invasion of the Gaza Strip must be stopped immediately.”
In his address, Türk highlighted that this plan violates the International Court of Justice ruling, which calls on Israel to end the occupation as soon as possible, respecting the two-state solution and the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
