A man searches the rubble of destroyed buildings for rescue after Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on Oct. 16, 2023. The ongoing conflict, which entered its ninth day on Sunday, has killed about 4,000 on both Israel and the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas.
"In this dramatic moment, as we are on the verge of the abyss in the Middle East, it is my duty as secretary-general of the United Nations to make two strong humanitarian appeals," he said in a statement.
"To Hamas, the hostages must be immediately released without conditions; to Israel, rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid must be granted for humanitarian supplies and workers for the sake of the civilians in Gaza," he added.
"Each one of these two objectives are valid in themselves. They should not become bargaining chips," the UN chief said.
The United Nations has stocks available of food, water, non-food items, medical supplies and fuel, located in Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank and Israel. These goods can be despatched within hours.
To ensure delivery, UN staff and partners on the ground need to be able to bring these supplies into and throughout Gaza safely and without impediment to deliver to those in need, said Guterres. ■
People search the rubble of destroyed buildings for rescue after Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on Oct. 16, 2023. The ongoing conflict, which entered its ninth day on Sunday, has killed about 4,000 on both Israel and the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
People search the rubble of destroyed buildings for rescue after Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on Oct. 16, 2023. The ongoing conflict, which entered its ninth day on Sunday, has killed about 4,000 on both Israel and the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
People search the rubble of destroyed buildings for rescue after Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on Oct. 16, 2023. The ongoing conflict, which entered its ninth day on Sunday, has killed about 4,000 on both Israel and the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on Oct. 15, 2023. The ongoing conflict, which entered its ninth day on Sunday, has killed about 4,000 on both Israel and the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on Oct. 15, 2023. The ongoing conflict, which entered its ninth day on Sunday, has killed about 4,000 on both Israel and the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
People gather on the rubble of destroyed buildings for rescue after Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on Oct. 16, 2023. The ongoing conflict, which entered its ninth day on Sunday, has killed about 4,000 on both Israel and the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
People search the rubble of destroyed buildings for rescue after Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis on Oct. 16, 2023. The ongoing conflict, which entered its ninth day on Sunday, has killed about 4,000 on both Israel and the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
People stand next to the bodies of their relatives at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central Gaza Strip city of Deir al-Balah on Oct. 15, 2023. The ongoing conflict, which entered its ninth day on Sunday, has killed about 4,000 on both Israel and the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza and for the release of hostages kept by Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
