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27 November 2023, New York

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Seven weeks of hostilities in Gaza and Israel have taken an appalling toll that has shocked the world. For the past four days, the guns have fallen silent. We have seen the release of Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas and others since 7 October, and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.

The Secretary General commends the Governments of Qatar, Egypt and the United States for facilitating this arrangement and he recognizes the critical role of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The United Nations will continue to support these efforts in every possible way.

During these four days, the United Nations has scaled up the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and sent aid to some northern areas that have been largely cut off for weeks. But this aid barely registers against the huge needs of 1.7 million displaced people. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is getting worse by the day.

The dialogue that led to the agreement must continue, resulting in a full humanitarian ceasefire, for the benefit of the people of Gaza, Israel and the wider region. The Secretary General once again calls for the remaining hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally.

He urges all States to use their influence to end this tragic conflict and support irreversible steps towards the only sustainable future for the region: a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side, in peace and security.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on the situation in the Middle East | United Nations Secretary-General

22 November 2023, New York

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the agreement to release hostages in Gaza

The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar supported by Egypt and the United States. This is an important step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done.

The United Nations will mobilize all its capacities to support the implementation of the agreement and maximize its positive impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

New York, 22 November 2023

19 November 2023 New York

Statement by the Secretary-General on Gaza

I am deeply shocked that two UNRWA schools were struck in less than 24 hours in Gaza. Dozens of people – many women and children – were killed and injured as they were seeking safety in United Nations premises.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians are seeking shelter at United Nations facilities throughout Gaza due to the intensified fighting. I reaffirm that our premises are inviolable.

This war is having a staggering and unacceptable number of civilian casualties, including women and children, every day. This must stop.

I reiterate my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

I also want to express my deep appreciation for all the mediation efforts led by the government of Qatar.

Statement by the Secretary-General - on Gaza | United Nations Secretary-General

14 November 2023 New York

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on Gaza

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General is deeply disturbed by the horrible situation and dramatic loss of life in several hospitals in Gaza.

In the name of humanity, the Secretary-General calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on Gaza | United Nations Secretary-General

07 November 2023 New York

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the Middle East

Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General

One month after the horrific events of 7 October, the Secretary-General reiterates his total condemnation of the acts of terror committed by Hamas in Israel for which there can be no justification. He will never forget the horrendous images of civilians being killed and maimed and others being dragged away into captivity. He reiterates his appeal for their immediate and unconditional release.

The Secretary-General remains extremely distressed by the killing of civilians in Gaza and the humanitarian catastrophe that continues to unfold in Gaza, with an unimaginable toll on civilians.

He also reiterates his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the Middle East| United Nations Secretary-General

06 November 2023 New York

Secretary-General's Press Conference on the Middle East

The Secretary-General

Very good morning.

The nightmare in Gaza is more than a humanitarian crisis.

It is a crisis of humanity.

The intensifying conflict is shaking the world, rattling the region and, most tragically, destroying so many innocent lives.

Ground operations by the Israel Defense Forces and continued bombardment are hitting civilians, hospitals, refugee camps, mosques, churches and UN facilities – including shelters.

No one is safe.

At the same time, Hamas and other militants use civilians as human shields and continue to launch rockets indiscriminately towards Israel.

I reiterate my utter condemnation of the abhorrent acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October – and repeat my call for the immediate, unconditional and safe release of hostages held in Gaza.

Nothing can justify the deliberate torture, killing, injuring and kidnapping of civilians.

The protection of civilians must be paramount.

I am deeply concerned about clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing.

Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press,

Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children. Hundreds of girls and boys are reportedly being killed or injured every day.

More journalists have reportedly been killed over a four-week period than in any conflict in at least three decades.

More United Nations aid workers have been killed than in any comparable period in the history of our organization.

I salute all those who continue their life-saving work despite the overwhelming challenges and risks.

The unfolding catastrophe makes the need for a humanitarian ceasefire more urgent with every passing hour.

The parties to the conflict -- and, indeed, the international community -- face an immediate and fundamental responsibility: to stop the inhuman collective suffering and dramatically expand humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Today, the United Nations and our partners are launching a $1.2 billion humanitarian appeal to help 2.7 million people – that’s the entire population of the Gaza Strip and half a million Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Some life-saving aid is getting into Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing.
But the trickle of assistance does not meet the ocean of need.

And let’s be clear: the Rafah crossing alone does not have the capacity to process aid trucks at the scale required.

Just over 400 trucks have crossed into Gaza over the past two weeks – compared with 500 a day before the conflict. And crucially, this does not include fuel.

Without fuel, newborn babies in incubators and patients on life support will die.

Water cannot be pumped or purified.

Raw sewage could soon start gushing onto the streets, further spreading disease.

Trucks loaded with critical relief will be stranded.

The way forward is clear.

A humanitarian ceasefire. Now.

All parties respecting all their obligations under international humanitarian law. Now.

This means the unconditional release of the hostages in Gaza. Now.

The protection of civilians, hospitals, UN facilities, shelters and schools. Now.

More food, more water, more medicine and of course fuel – entering Gaza safely, swiftly and at the scale needed. Now.

Unfettered access to deliver supplies to all people in need in Gaza. Now.

And the end of the use of civilians as human shields. Now.

None of these appeals should be conditional on the others.

And for all of this, we need more funding – now.

In addition, I remain gravely concerned about rising violence and an expansion of the conflict. The occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is at a boiling point.

Let us also not forget the importance of addressing the risks of the conflict spilling over to the wider region.

We are already witnessing a spiral of escalation from Lebanon and Syria, to Iraq and Yemen.

That escalation must stop.

Cool heads and diplomatic efforts must prevail.

Hateful rhetoric and provocative actions must cease.

I am deeply troubled by the rise in antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry.

Jewish and Muslim communities in many parts of the world are on high alert, fearing for their personal safety and security.

Emotions are at a fever pitch. Tensions are running high.

The images of suffering are heart breaking and soul crushing.

But we must find a way to hold on to our common humanity.

I think of civilians in Gaza – the vast majority women and children -- terrified by the relentless bombardment.

I join the UN family in mourning 89 of our UNRWA colleagues who have been killed in Gaza – many of them together with members of their family.

They include teachers, school principals, doctors, engineers, guards, support staff and a young woman named Mai.

Mai did not let her muscular dystrophy or her wheelchair confine her dreams. She was a top student, became a software developer and devoted her skills to working on information technology for UNRWA.

I am so deeply inspired by her example.

I think of all those tortured and killed in Israel nearly one month ago and the hostages – abducted from their homes, their families, their friends while simply living their lives.

Ten days ago, I met with some of the family members of those hostages.

I heard their stories, felt their anguish and was deeply moved by their compassion.

I will never relent in working for their immediate release. This is essential in itself and central to solving many other challenges.

One mother movingly shared with me her desolation over her abducted son, Hersh.

She also spoke outside the Security Council – and on the subject of confronting hatred, she said:

“When you only get outraged when one side’s babies are killed, then your moral compass is broken and your humanity is broken.”

Even in her utter despair, she stood before the world and reminded us:

“In a competition of pain, there is never a winner.”

We must act now to find a way out of this brutal, awful, agonizing dead end of destruction.

To help end the pain and suffering.

To help heal the broken.

And to help pave the way to peace, to a two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians living in peace and security.

Thank you.

Secretary-General's Press Conference - on the Middle East | United Nations Secretary-General

03 November 2023 New York

Statement by the Secretary-General on the situation in the Middle East

I am horrified by the reported attack in Gaza on an ambulance convoy outside Al Shifa hospital. The images of bodies strewn on the street outside the hospital are harrowing.

I do not forget the terror attacks committed in Israel by Hamas and the killing, maiming and abductions, including of women and children. All hostages held in Gaza must be released immediately and unconditionally.

Now, for nearly one month, civilians in Gaza, including children and women, have been besieged, denied aid, killed, and bombed out of their homes.

This must stop.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is horrific. Not nearly enough food, water and medicine are coming in to meet people’s needs. Fuel to power hospitals and water plants is running out. UNRWA shelters are at nearly four times their full capacity and are being hit in bombardments. Morgues are overflowing. Shops are empty. The sanitation situation is abysmal. We are seeing an increase in diseases and respiratory illnesses, especially among children. An entire population is traumatized. Nowhere is safe.

I renew my earlier appeals for a humanitarian ceasefire.

International humanitarian law must be respected. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including humanitarian and medical workers and assets must be protected. Civilians must also not be used as human shields.

Essential supplies and services and unimpeded humanitarian access must be safely allowed into and across Gaza at a scale commensurate with this dramatic situation.

All those with influence must exert it to ensure respect for the rules of war, end the suffering and avoid a spillover of the conflict that could engulf the whole region.

Statement by the Secretary-General – on the situation in the Middle East | United Nations Secretary-General

31 October 2023 New York/Kathmandu

Secretary-General’s statement on the situation in Gaza

I am deeply alarmed by the intensification of the conflict between Israel and Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza. This includes the expansion of ground operations by the Israel Defense Forces accompanied by intense air strikes, and the continued rocket fire towards Israel from Gaza.

Civilians have borne the brunt of the current fighting from the outset. Protection of civilians on both sides is paramount and must be respected at all times.

I repeat my utter condemnation of the acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October. There is never any justification for the killing, injuring and abduction of civilians. I appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of those civilians held hostage by Hamas.

I condemn the killing of civilians in Gaza and I am dismayed by reports that two-thirds of those who have been killed are women and children.

I mourn and honour the United Nations colleagues who have tragically been killed in the bombardment of Gaza over the past three weeks. My heart goes out to the families of our colleagues who lost their lives in service.

International humanitarian law establishes clear rules that cannot be ignored. It is not an a la carte menu and cannot be applied selectively.

All parties must abide by it, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.

With too many Israeli and Palestinian lives already lost, this escalation only increases the immense suffering of civilians.

The level of humanitarian assistance that has been allowed into Gaza up to this point is completely inadequate and not commensurate with the needs of people in Gaza, compounding the humanitarian tragedy.

I reiterate my call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for unimpeded humanitarian access to be granted consistently, safely and to scale in order to meet the urgent needs created by the catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.

I remain deeply concerned about the risk of a dangerous escalation beyond Gaza and urge all leaders to exercise utmost restraint to avoid a wider conflagration.

Secretary-General’s statement - on the situation in Gaza | United Nations Secretary-General

29 October 2023 Kathmandu, Nepal

Excerpts from Secretary-General's joint press encounter with the Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’

Good afternoon.
It is a great pleasure to be back in beautiful Nepal.

The Prime Minister and I have just had a very productive meeting and I thank him for his wonderful hospitality. Indeed, the warm welcome that I received in Nepal is something I will never forget.

We are living in difficult and tense times. I know that even though the conflict in the Middle East is thousands of miles away, it has hit very close to home for the people of Nepal.

I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the ten Nepalese students killed in the terror attacks by Hamas in Israel on 7 October, and my best wishes for the safe return of Mr. Bipin Joshi, who is missing.

I have just arrived here from Qatar and I will continue to insist on the immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages in Gaza.

And I repeat my utter condemnation of the appalling attacks perpetrated by Hamas. There is no justification, ever, for the killing, injuring and abduction of civilians.

The situation in Gaza is growing more desperate by the hours. I regret that instead of a critically needed humanitarian pause supported by the international community, Israel has intensified its military operations.

The number of civilians who have been killed and injured is totally unacceptable.

All parties must respect their obligations under International Humanitarian Law.

That Law emerged from the tragedy and awful experiences of war. I have always been consistent in my call for strict compliance of the well-established principles and rule of International Humanitarian Law.

The protection of civilians is paramount.

The Laws of War establish clear rules to protect human life and respect humanitarian concerns. Those laws cannot be contorted for the sake of expedience.

The world is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe taking place before our eyes.

More than two million people, with nowhere safe to go, are being denied the essentials for life – food, water, shelter and medical care – while being subjected to relentless bombardment.

I urge all those with responsibility to step back from the brink.

And I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of a sustained humanitarian relief at a scale that meets the needs of the people of Gaza.

We must join forces to end this nightmare for the people of Gaza, Israel and all those affected around the world, including here in Nepal.

…

Secretary-General's joint press encounter with the Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ | United Nations Secretary-General

28 October 2023, Doha

Readout of the Secretary-General’s phone call with H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

During a stopover in Doha, Qatar, the Secretary-General spoke by phone with H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

They discussed the current situation in the Middle East and spoke about the coordination of humanitarian efforts for civilians in Gaza.

Readout of the Secretary-General’s phone call with H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. | United Nations Secretary-General