UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for immediate and unimpeded aid access to the Gaza Strip, warning that Israel’s month-long blockade has escalated the humanitarian crisis and intensified civilian suffering.
“More than an entire month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaza. No food. No fuel. No medicine. No commercial supplies,” Guterres said during a press conference on Tuesday. “As aid has dried up, the floodgates of horror have re-opened.”
The blockade has left the enclave without essential supplies, and crossings remain closed for aid and commercial goods under Israel’s orders since March 2. This marks the longest lockdown since October 2023, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Addressing journalists, Guterres refuted claims that there is sufficient food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza. “Those [claims] are far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low,” he emphasized. “Gaza is a killing field, and civilians are in an endless death loop.”
The UN chief stressed that Israel, as the occupying power, has unequivocal obligations under international law to ensure the provision of food and medical supplies to the population and to maintain public health services in the occupied territory. “However, none of that is happening,” he stated.
Guterres urged for unimpeded humanitarian access and the protection of humanitarian personnel, highlighting the need for an independent investigation into the killing of humanitarians, including UN staff.
He reiterated his calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire. “The current path is a dead end, totally intolerable in the eyes of international law and history,” Guterres emphasized. “It is time to end the dehumanization, protect civilians, release the hostages, ensure lifesaving aid, and renew the ceasefire.”
