Lives of Palestinian people shattered: Guterres

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said lives of Palestinian people are shattered. Respect for international humanitarian law is in tatters.

In a speech marking six months since Israel’s war on Gaza began, the UN chief said that “nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has brought “relentless death and destruction” to Palestinians in the strip, he said.

 “During my visit to the Rafah crossing 10 days ago, I met veteran humanitarians who told me categorically that the crisis and suffering in Gaza is unlike any they have ever seen,” Guterres said, adding that long lines of trucks with aid continued to face “obstacle after obstacle”.

“When the gates to aid are closed, the doors to starvation are opened,” he said.

“More than half the population – over a million people – are facing catastrophic hunger. Children in Gaza today are dying for lack of food and water.

“This is incomprehensible, and entirely avoidable.”

Since Israel’s war on Gaza began on October 7, more than 33,000 people have been killed, according to health authorities. Hundreds of thousands have also been displaced and aid organisations warn that the strip is on the brink of famine.