Friday 26 / July / 2024
New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his dismay at the Israeli occupation's failure to comply with the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) recent decision regarding the situation in Gaza.
In a statement attributed to the Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, Guterres emphasised the binding nature of ICJ decisions on all parties involved in the dispute.
The statement underscored the responsibility of the occupying authorities to facilitate the safe transport and delivery of essential humanitarian supplies to those in need, noting that the humanitarian operation in the Gaza Strip is "on the verge of collapse."
The UN Secretary-General reiterated his call for the protection of Palestinian civilians and the fulfillment of their basic needs, including access to food, shelter, and clean water.
The Israeli occupation authorities must facilitate the safe pickup and delivery of humanitarian supplies from Egypt entering Kerem Shalom to those in need, underscoring the need for all crossing points to be open in line with Security Council resolution 2720 (2023) and for humanitarian organisations to have full, safe and unhindered access to reach all civilians in need across Gaza, he added.
Last week, the ICJ demanded that the Israeli occupation immediately cease its military attack on Rafah, asserting that the humanitarian situation in the city has deteriorated further since the court's latest order.
