UNITED NATIONS: Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement condemning the ongoing violence in Gaza and Lebanon. Guterres criticized Hamas for its role in escalating the conflict and called for an immediate end to the bloodshed.
He highlighted the need for the global community to pressurize Hamas’ actions, particularly their taking of hostages during the attack. Of the 251 people abducted, 97 remain captive, with some confirmed dead.
In addition to urging Hamas to release the hostages unconditionally, Guterres expressed deep concern over the conflict’s expansion into Lebanon, where Israel has been targeting Hezbollah, a Hamas ally. The war has devastated Gaza, with over 41,825 people killed, primarily civilians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
Guterres stressed the urgency of silencing the weapons and returning to peace, international law, and justice. He emphasized that it is time to stop the suffering and called on the international community to act to prevent further escalation. The escalating violence, particularly in Lebanon, raises fears of a broader regional crisis, threatening even more lives and stability.
