The United Nations has issued a strong call for an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza, stressing that the situation is deteriorating dramatically and is leading to an unprecedented catastrophe.
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, expressed deep concern about the situation of civilians in Gaza in a public statement. He stressed that the Palestinian territory is increasingly immersed in a humanitarian crisis, with the death toll rising rapidly and the massive displacement of the population taking on dramatic proportions.
“Today the world watches in horror as the situation in the Palestinian territories continues to deteriorate to levels unprecedented in recent history. We are talking about a population that is already struggling to survive. Palestinians in Gaza are seeing their worst fears come true before their eyes. Expanded military operations in Gaza City will have catastrophic consequences, including the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people,” Alakbarov said.
According to him, Israeli attacks have intensified throughout the Gaza Strip, targeting refugee camps, schools, hospitals and residential buildings. Health authorities in the enclave report that since July 23, over 2,500 Palestinians have lost their lives, including at least 270 people killed while trying to get food near aid distribution points.
Alakbarov also stressed that since the beginning of the conflict on October 7, 2023, over 240 journalists have been killed in Gaza, describing this as another tragic dimension of the situation.
"During my recent visit to Gaza, I was shocked by the scale of the destruction and suffering. I met humanitarian workers risking their lives to provide aid, while they themselves lived in intolerable conditions," he said.
The UN has called on the international community to stop wasting any more time on diplomatic "procrastination" and to immediately take concrete steps to end the conflict and prevent an even greater humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
