The secretary-general of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres, has expressed deep concern over what he described as ‘the clear violations of international humanitarian law’, being is being perpetrated in Gaza in the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group, Hamas.
Guterres, in strong terms condemned both the use of civilians as human shields and the bombing of southern Gaza after an evacuation order.
Israeli diplomats responded angrily after Guterres also suggested the Hamas attack on Israel ‘did not happen in a vacuum.’
The Israeli ambassador to the UN called on Guterres to resign, while the country’s foreign minister asked Guterres: “In what world do you live?”
Earlier, one of two hostages freed by Hamas on Monday gave a press conference saying: “I went through hell that I could not have known.”
Read Also: Over 5,000 Killed In Israeli Strikes On Gaza, Hamas Claims
Africa Today News, New York reports that no fewer than 200 hostages abducted by Hamas continue to be held in Gaza, four have so far been freed.
Israel has continued its heavy bombing of Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry said almost 5,800 people have been killed since October 7 when Hamas launched an attack on Israel killing over 1,400 persons.
This brings the total number of deaths recorded since the war erupted since the first week of October to 7,200.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that the Hamas militia group had earlier in the week claimed that more than 5,000 Palestinians have died in the beleaguered Palestinian territory of Gaza since Israel began its ferocious bombing assault more than two weeks ago.
Concerns about the escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza have increased during the conflict precipitated by the October 7 Hamas attack, which Israeli officials claim resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 people who were shot, stabbed, or burned by the Islamist militants. More least 200 hostages were also taken by Hamas.
On a day when Israel’s army reported more than 300 new strikes within 24 hours, Gaza’s health ministry said the death toll had surged above 5,000, around 40 per cent of them children.