UN Secretary-General Denounces Israel's Military Operations in Gaza at G77+China Summit
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres strongly criticized Israel for its military actions in Gaza, calling the situation "heartbreaking" and "utterly unacceptable." Speaking at the opening of the G77+China summit in Kampala, Guterres expressed deep concern over the widespread destruction and loss of civilian lives caused by Israel's military operations.
Guterres emphasized the unprecedented scale of destruction and civilian casualties, stating that Israel's offensive has created a humanitarian crisis of significant proportions. He urged the international community to prevent further conflict in the already volatile Middle East region, describing it as a "tinder-box."
The Israeli military launched its offensive in Gaza following an attack by the Islamist militant group Hamas on October 7, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, with 240 taken hostage. Israel's military campaign has led to the death of more than 25,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and the displacement of a majority of the enclave's 2.3 million residents.
Throughout the conflict, the Israeli military has expressed regret for civilian casualties, but it has accused Hamas of operating in densely populated areas and using civilians as human shields—a charge vehemently denied by the militant group.
Secretary-General Guterres stressed the importance of accepting a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, labeling any refusal as "totally unacceptable." He argued that denying Palestinians the right to statehood would only prolong the conflict and pose a severe threat to global peace and security.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, appeared to contradict U.S. President Joe Biden's stance on Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu asserted that, after Hamas is neutralized, Israel must maintain security control over Gaza to prevent it from posing a threat—an approach conflicting with the demand for Palestinian sovereignty.
Guterres was attending the G77+China summit in Kampala, a group of 134 developing countries advocating for the common interests of nations from the global south. The summit concluded with a joint statement condemning Israel's "illegal military aggression on the Gaza Strip" and calling for an immediate and lasting humanitarian ceasefire.
As tensions persist in the region, the international community remains on high alert, with efforts focused on diplomatic solutions to bring an end to the conflict and address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
