Antonio Guterres says he fears the conflict in Gaza will “get exponentially worse” with out a truce because the Israeli assault on Rafah looms.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has renewed his requires a ceasefire within the Gaza Strip whereas a Hamas delegation will quickly go to the Egyptian capital Cairo to renew oblique talks.
“For the sake of the individuals of Gaza, the hostages and their households, the area and the world at giant, I strongly encourage the federal government of Israel and the leaders of Hamas to succeed in an settlement of their negotiations,” stated the secretary normal. it is a assertion. submit on X on Friday.
The UN chief added that he fears “the conflict will get exponentially worse” with out a ceasefire.
For the sake of the individuals of Gaza, the hostages and their households, the area and the world at giant, I strongly encourage the federal government of Israel and the Hamas management to succeed in an settlement of their negotiations.
With out that, I concern the conflict will get exponentially worse.
-António Guterres (@antonioguterres) Could 3, 2024
His feedback got here as CIA Director William Burns arrived in Cairo for conferences, Reuters information company reported, citing an Egyptian safety supply and three sources at Cairo airport.
Egypt, together with Qatar and the US, has been main efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas to barter an settlement for a ceasefire and the discharge of captives in Gaza.
A day earlier, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh stated he mentioned the most recent Israeli truce proposal with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
Hamas confirmed Thursday that talks are scheduled to be held within the coming days aimed toward ending the conflict in Gaza.
This week, the Palestinian group stated it had acquired Israel’s newest place and would examine it earlier than submitting a response.
Each US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British International Secretary David Cameron urged Hamas to simply accept the deal, describing it as a “beneficiant” supply. It consists of the cessation of combating for 40 days and the trade of dozens of Israeli captives for a lot of extra Palestinian prisoners.
However Hamas has pressured that it’ll not settle for an settlement that doesn’t result in a everlasting ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the unhindered return of displaced households to their properties.
Raid on Rafah looming
Amid stress for a ceasefire, Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, expressed concern for civilians within the besieged enclave.
Laerke warned that an imminent Israeli floor offensive on the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah would put the lives of a whole bunch of hundreds of Palestinians there in danger.
“It could possibly be a bloodbath of civilians and an unbelievable blow to the humanitarian operation in your complete Strip as a result of it’s carried out primarily from Rafah,” Laerke stated at a information convention in Geneva on Friday.
Rafah has been the principle gateway for assist to Gaza, which has been beneath a extreme Israeli blockade that has introduced the territory to the brink of famine.
Assist operations carried out from Rafah embrace medical clinics and meals distribution factors, comparable to facilities for malnourished kids, Laerke stated.
Greater than 1.5 displaced Palestinians are taking refuge in Rafah, which endures lethal Israeli assaults every day.
A minimum of 34,622 Palestinians have been killed and 77,867 injured within the Israeli assault on Gaza since October.
Their offensive has pushed greater than 80 p.c of the territory’s 2.3 million inhabitants from their properties. Many of the displaced moved to the south of the territory and ended up in Rafah, close to the border with Egypt.
Nations all over the world have urged Israel to not invade Rafah, warning of disastrous humanitarian penalties. However Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to launch a full-scale assault on the town whatever the consequence of ceasefire talks.
This week, he stated Israel will destroy the remaining Hamas battalions in Rafah “with or with out a deal” in order that Israel can obtain “full victory” within the conflict.
In November, throughout a week-long truce, Palestinian teams in Gaza freed dozens of captives in trade for a whole bunch of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. However Israeli forces renewed their offensive after the ceasefire expired.
