On Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres alleged violations of international law in Gaza and urged an immediate ceasefire as Israel attacks the Palestinian territory in response to Hamas attacks, with the situation extremely splitting the Security Council.
Israel expressed anger over the UN chief’s plea before a high-level session of the Security Council, where the Palestinian foreign minister in turn condemned what he defined as inaction in the clash that has killed thousands on both sides, mostly civilians.
Opening the session, Guterres said that there was no excuse for the “appalling” violence by Hamas militants on October 7 but also cautioned against “collective punishment” of the Palestinians.
Without explicitly naming Israel, Guterres said, “I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza. Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law.”
Palestinians had been “subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation,” telling the Security Council: “It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum,” Guterres said.
His comments outraged Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen who, pointing his finger at Guterres and raising his voice, recounted graphic accounts of civilians including young children killed on October 7 in the deadliest single attack in Israeli history.
“Mr Secretary-General, in what world do you live?” Cohen said.
Denying tying the violence to the occupation, Cohen said Israel gave Gaza to the Palestinians “to the last millimeter” with its withdrawal in 2005.
Israel briefly later levied a blockade of the impoverished territory, in place ever since, after Hamas took power, and it still occupies the West Bank.
