Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, along with the release of hostages and the delivery of relief to address the urgent needs of the people. Despite being on his way to Nepal for an official visit, Guterres is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East. During a stopover in Doha, Qatar, he spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to discuss the current situation and coordinate humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Guterres also met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani to discuss the release of hostages in Gaza. The Secretary-General expressed his gratitude and support for Qatar’s mediation initiatives. Guterres expressed his concern about the escalating bombardments and the impact on civilians and UN staff in Gaza. He called on everyone to assume their responsibilities and emphasized the need for a humanitarian pause in the fighting. The World Health Organization warned of a total communication and electrical blackout in Gaza and urged all parties to protect civilians and health infrastructure. The ongoing violence has overwhelmed hospitals, resulting in a rise in casualties. The UN General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution calling for a humanitarian truce, while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the intensified bombardments and the cutting off of communication in Gaza. The High Commissioner emphasized the need for de-escalation and called for all parties to work towards a peaceful resolution.
