United Nations’ Secretary-General, António Guterres has called on Hamas, as a matter of urgency, to release hostages held in its custody adding that the Middle East was on the verge of the abyss.
Guterres made this call n a statement while also calling for swift humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip and as it urged Hamas to immediately release the hostages it took.
“Each one of these two objectives are valid in themselves.
“They should not become bargaining chips and they must be implemented because it is the right thing to do.
“Gaza is running out of water, electricity, and other essential supplies,” the UN chief said.
Guterres further said that the UN has stocks of food, water, non-food items, medical supplies, and fuel available in Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank which could be sent to Gaza “within hours” if staff could deliver them safely and without impediment.
The Israeli military has been bombarding targets in the area since the unprecedented attacks on Israeli civilians carried out by Hamas fighters on Oct. 7.
The Palestinian militant organisation, which rules Gaza, launched thousands of rockets toward Israel while hundreds of its fighters breached border defences in an unprecedented surprise attack over a week ago in a massacre that left more than 1,300 dead.
It also abducted more than 150 people.
