António Guterres has expressed surprise at the misconstruing of his remarks to the UN Security Council, prompting Israel to demand his resignation following the speech.
“I am appalled by the distortion of my words, insinuating that I condone the actions of Hamas as acts of terror. This is completely untrue. In fact, my stance is quite the opposite,” Reuters states. “I feel it is important to clarify the truth, particularly out of consideration for the victims and their loved ones.”
On Tuesday in New York, the UN leader stated that the actions of Hamas cannot be justified by any perceived injustice against Palestinians. He went on to acknowledge that the attacks by Hamas were not isolated incidents and that the Palestinian people have endured 56 years of oppressive occupation.
The remarks made by the UN secretary general about Israel’s actions in Gaza have sparked anger among both Israeli officials and certain members of the US Republican party. He referred to the bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip as “collective punishment” and a violation of international humanitarian law.
He was “surprised” by the incorrect interpretations of his speech to the United Nations Security Council. In his speech, he referred to Israel’s bombing and restriction of the Gaza Strip as actions that punish all Palestinians and go against international laws on humanitarianism.
Israel has rejected Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statement that Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, is not a terrorist organization.
The foreign ministry spokesperson, Lior Haiat, stated on social media that Israel completely disagrees with the Turkish president’s strong comments about the terrorist group Hamas.
Haiat stated that the efforts of the Turkish president to justify the actions of the terrorist group and his provocative language will not alter the atrocities witnessed by the entire world.
During a meeting with members of his political party, Erdoğan stated that Israel considers Hamas to be a terrorist group, which is also the view of the western world. He mentioned that Turkey does not owe anything to Israel, despite the support it has received from the west. Erdoğan believes that Hamas is a group fighting for liberation and defending their territory, and not a terrorist organization.
He pleaded with Israel to listen to pleas for peace and insisted that they must cease their assaults on Gaza. He described Israel’s actions in Gaza as one of the most brutal and repulsive attacks in history.
Erdoğan stated that he had cancelled a previously planned visit to Israel due to what he perceived as misuse of their goodwill by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The deputy prime minister of Italy has also criticized the statements made by Erdoğan and proposed that the Italian foreign ministry call for a meeting with the Turkish ambassador in Rome to express their disapproval.
Israel and Egypt.
The leaders of Egypt and France, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Emmanuel Macron, held a joint press conference in Cairo where they announced their commitment to addressing the crisis in Gaza. They also discussed providing assistance and preventing outside involvement in the conflict.
According to Reuters, Sisi stated that Macron acknowledged the potential danger of Palestinians being displaced from Gaza into Egyptian territory.
Sisi stated that any actions that harm civilians are condemned and should be dealt with using a consistent approach.
Macron emphasized the importance of delivering fuel to hospitals, noting that a French naval vessel and a plane carrying crucial supplies will soon be aiding Gaza hospitals.
António Guterres expressed surprise at the misinterpretations of his statement to the United Nations Security Council. Israel has demanded his resignation following his speech.
I am appalled by the incorrect interpretations of my statement that suggest I was condoning acts of terror by Hamas. This is untrue. In fact, it was quite the opposite. According to Reuters, I feel it is important to clarify the truth, especially out of consideration for the victims and their loved ones.
In New York on Tuesday, the UN leader stated that the heinous attacks carried out by Hamas cannot be justified by any injustice towards the Palestinians. He also emphasized the importance of acknowledging that these attacks were not isolated incidents, but rather a result of 56 years of oppressive occupation faced by the Palestinian people.
The statement made by the United Nations secretary general has sparked anger in Israel and certain US Republicans. He referred to Israel’s attacks and blockade on the Gaza Strip as a form of “collective punishment” against the Palestinian population and a clear breach of international humanitarian laws.
António Guterres.
Pedro Sánchez expressed his support for the call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, joining the voices of many, including the UN secretary general, urging for the delivery of essential aid to the Palestinian people. He shared this message on social media.
“I fully stand behind António Guterres and believe that we must seek a diplomatic resolution to this conflict.”
In comments to reporters, Sánchez added: “I’d like to offer the Spanish government’s full support – and doubtless the support of the majority of Spaniards – to our UN secretary general, Portugal’s António Guterres.
I believe that his actions are representing the desires of the majority of societies globally, who are seeking a temporary cessation of hostilities and the provision of humanitarian aid. They also want an end to this humanitarian crisis and the senseless loss of life.
They are seeking a diplomatic approach that will result in resolving this serious crisis, which was sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel’s territory. This action deserves complete condemnation from Spanish society, the Spanish government, and the international community.
Yesterday, the UN received a request from Israel for Guterres to step down due to remarks he made.
According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has stated that the US is responsible for instigating Israel’s attack on Gaza.
He is quoted in Tehran as saying, “America is actively aiding criminals and directing the ongoing violence in Gaza.”
He stated that the United States was stained with the blood of the marginalized, minors, patients, women, and others.
Israel and Hamas …
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Israel has denied a visa to Martin Griffiths, the UN’s humanitarian affairs chief, citing comments made by secretary-general António Guterres. According to Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, they will not be issuing visas to any UN representatives in response to these remarks. Erdan also stated that a visa for Griffiths had already been rejected and that it was time to teach the UN a lesson.
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Israel has requested that UN secretary general Guterres step down following his statement condemning Hamas’ “appalling attacks” on Israel on October 7th. He also expressed concern over the use of collective punishment against the Palestinian people and the violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza.
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According to the Gaza health ministry, controlled by Hamas, 6,546 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip due to airstrikes carried out by Israel since October 7th. This includes 2,704 children. In the last 24 hours alone, 756 people, including 344 children, have been killed. The total number of injuries is reported to be 17,439. It has not been possible for media outlets to confirm the accuracy of these numbers from Gaza.
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The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, informed a gathering of members of his AKP party that Hamas cannot be considered a terrorist group. He also denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as brutal and announced the cancellation of his scheduled visit to the country. The remarks were met with swift backlash, with the Italian Deputy Prime Minister condemning them as appalling.
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The Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani stated his optimism for a potential progress in the release of hostages in the near future. He denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza as a form of “collective punishment policy” and emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication channels as the key to achieving peace in the region.
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According to Syrian state media, an Israeli airstrike in Deraa resulted in the deaths of eight Syrian military members. The attack occurred overnight in the Daraa countryside, originating from the Golan Heights. Additionally, Syrian state TV stated that an Israeli air assault targeted Aleppo international airport.
Ziad, a 35-year-old Palestinian, documented his experiences in Gaza in his personal diary.
At the beginning of the situation, I chose not to write. However, a man who I look up to as a mentor encouraged me to reconsider. I am thankful that I followed his advice and wrote.
In recent times, writing has served as my form of therapy. It allows me to contemplate the chaotic events happening around me and put them into perspective. It has become my safe haven, a trusted confidant with whom I eagerly share the turmoil within my heart, soul, and mind.
I have not had the motivation to write recently, so I made the decision to not write. Yesterday, I did not write anything and I had no intention of doing so today. However, I unexpectedly found myself writing late at night.
Expressing myself through writing is my way of persevering. It’s a symbol of my belief that eventually, I will reflect on these journals and marvel at how far I’ve come. Writing signifies that my heart is still pumping and my words deserve to be acknowledged.
Access Ziad’s diary by clicking here: Gaza diary part nine: ‘My heart is still beating as I write this’
Israel.
A recent study has revealed that only 2% of the usual amount of food has been allowed into the Gaza Strip since Israel imposed stricter restrictions following a Hamas attack on October 7th.
Sally Abi Khalil, the Middle East director for Oxfam, expressed deep concern about the current situation, questioning the humanity of those involved. She emphasized that millions of innocent civilians are suffering due to the use of starvation as a tactic in war, and urged world leaders to take immediate action instead of remaining passive bystanders.
Oxfam urged the UN Security Council and member states to take immediate action to prevent the situation from worsening.
During a parliamentary session in London today, the UK’s prime minister, Rishi Sunak, was asked by Mhairi Black, the deputy Westminster leader of the Scottish National Party, about his stance on a humanitarian ceasefire.
Sunak replied:
From the start we have said that the first and most important principle is that Israel has the right to defend itself under international law – our support for that position is absolute and unchanged.
However, we have consistently stated that we desire for British citizens to have the ability to depart from Gaza, as well as the release of hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance.
We understand that in order for all of this to occur, a safer environment must be in place. This may require specific breaks rather than just a ceasefire.
Yesterday evening, we had a conversation with our partners at the United Nations about this matter. We have consistently emphasized the importance of upholding international law and taking necessary measures to ensure the safety of civilians. Furthermore, we are actively working to increase the flow of aid to Gaza.
The UK government, according to Sunak’s office in Downing Street, has clarified their support for a pause rather than a ceasefire, stating that a complete ceasefire would only benefit Hamas. They believe that temporary and restricted humanitarian pauses can be used as an operational tool.
According to Reuters, Antonio Guterres, a representative for the government, made a statement on Wednesday.
The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations has requested for Guterres to step down from his position, following his speech in New York yesterday which brought attention to the violation of international humanitarian laws in Gaza. He stated that the attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel on October 7th were unacceptable and should not be used as a justification for punishing the entire Palestinian population.
Previously, a member of the UK government stated that they did not share Guterres’s evaluation.
Hamas has recently announced that they have fired a rocket towards the southern Israeli city of Eilat. This would be the farthest distance a rocket has been launched by Hamas since the start of the ongoing war on October 7th, reaching a distance of 220km from the Gaza Strip.
According to an IDF representative, a single launch from Gaza was detected heading towards the Eilat area. The projectile landed in an unpopulated area and there were no reports of harm or injuries.
The health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, has released an updated report on the number of casualties. According to the report, 6,546 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip due to attacks from Israel since October 7, and among them are 2,704 children.
In the past 24 hours, a total of 756 individuals lost their lives, including 344 children. Additionally, there have been a reported 17,439 injuries in total.
Media outlets have been unable to confirm the number of casualties reported from Gaza on their own. The recent series of airstrikes by Israel began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the death of at least 1,400 Israelis.
Syrian state TV has announced that an Israeli airstrike has hit Aleppo international airport, as reported by Reuters. This would be the fourth attack of its kind in recent weeks.
Source: theguardian.com
