Egypt Daily News – The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed on Tuesday that forcing Palestinians to be displaced from the Gaza Strip contradicts international law. In a press conference responding to questions about U.S. efforts to control the territory, he stated: “Forcing Palestinians to flee is against international law. Palestinians must be able to live in a Palestinian state alongside Israel. This is the only solution that can bring peace to the Middle East.”
The UN Secretary-General also noted that over a month had passed without any aid reaching Gaza, and “as supplies run out, the doors to horrors are reopened,” pointing out that Gaza has become a battlefield and civilians are trapped in an endless cycle of death.
He added that “United Nations agencies and their partners are ready and determined to provide relief, but the newly proposed approval mechanisms from the Israeli authorities for aid delivery threaten to impose further control over the aid, severely reducing it, down to the last calorie and grain of flour.”
Guterres emphasized that “the world may fail to find words to describe the situation in Gaza, but we will never escape the truth. The current path leads to a dead end, in an entirely unacceptable situation from the standpoint of international law and history. The risk of the West Bank becoming another Gaza worsens the situation.”
He continued, “We will not participate in any measure that does not fully respect the core principles of humanity, neutrality, independence, and impartiality. Humanitarian access must be guaranteed without obstacles, and all humanitarian workers must be provided with protection under international law.”
Guterres also stressed the importance of respecting the sanctity of United Nations buildings and assets, calling for an independent investigation into the deaths of humanitarian workers, including UN staff.
He further said, “I would like to say a special word about the heroes working in the humanitarian field in Gaza. They are being shot at, but they are doing everything they can to continue on the path they have chosen – to help people.” He added, “For weeks, the weapons were silent, barriers were removed, and we were able to deliver life-saving supplies to all parts of Gaza. All of this ended with the collapse of the ceasefire.”
The United Nations Secretary-General emphasized the need for full transparency regarding the current situation and noted that claims about having enough food in Gaza to feed all the Palestinians in the territory are far from the reality on the ground.
He also clarified that Israel, as the occupying power, has an unequivocal obligation under international law. He quoted from the Fourth Geneva Convention, stating that “the occupying power has a duty to ensure food and medical supplies for the population… and to maintain medical facilities, hospitals, public health, and sanitary conditions in the occupied territory… If sufficient supplies are not available for all or part of the population in an occupied territory, the occupying power must approve relief plans and facilitate them by all available means.”
Guterres pointed out that none of this is happening today, as no humanitarian supplies are entering Gaza, while food, medicines, shelter supplies, and essential equipment are piling up at crossing points. He stressed the need to uphold core principles, stating that “UN member states must comply with their obligations under international law, and justice and accountability must follow when these obligations are not met.”
He concluded by saying, “The time has come to end the dehumanization of civilians, protect them, ensure life-saving aid, and resume the ceasefire.”
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the presence of U.S. peacekeeping forces in Gaza and U.S. control over the territory would benefit the Palestinian sector.
Trump expressed surprise over “why Israel even gave up Gaza in the first place,” describing it as “a great strategic location but uninhabitable.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that there were “positive discussions with other countries willing to host Gaza’s residents,” though he refused to name these countries.
Following a meeting with U.S. President Trump at the White House, Netanyahu again praised Trump’s plan to evacuate Gaza’s residents while the reconstruction of the territory takes place.
