UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for “silencing the guns” of Israel in the besieged Gaza Strip in honor of the start of the holy month of Ramadan.
Guterres told reporters that Ramadan celebrates “peace, solidarity and reconciliation. Yet even though Ramadan has begun – the killing, bombing and bloodshed continue in Gaza.”
Guterres urged for the immediate release of hostages and the removal of all barriers hindering the delivery of life-saving aid to the region. He highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where 2.4 million Palestinians are living under total siege by the Israeli military. The United Nations has warned of the growing risk of famine due to the lack of sufficient humanitarian assistance.
The UN chief’s call for a ceasefire comes amid a devastating toll on Palestinian lives, with at least 31,112 Palestinians, mostly women and children, killed since October 7 in relentless Israeli bombardments, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Biden Calls for Ceasefire During Ramadan
While US President Joe Biden had previously called for a temporary ceasefire ahead of Ramadan, his appeal went unanswered as Muslims in Gaza marked the beginning of the month-long holiday on Monday.
Guterres underscored the urgency of the situation, stating, “The eyes of history are watching. We cannot look away. We must act to avoid more preventable deaths.”
Expressing grave concern over the ongoing civilian casualties and destruction, Guterres decried the insufficient flow of humanitarian aid, stating that international humanitarian law lies in tatters.
