News|United NationsUN’s Guterres says Israel’s conduct of war in Gaza ‘fundamentally wrong’Guterres said Israel’s war has been waged with ‘total neglect’ with respect to civilian deaths and Gaza’s destruction.
On Wed, Dec 3, 2025, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concerns over Israel's military operations in Gaza, suggesting potential violations of international law. These comments were made during an interview at the Reuters NEXT…
On Wed, Dec 3, 2025, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concerns over Israel's military operations in Gaza, suggesting potential violations of international law. These comments were made during an interview at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York.
Military Operations and Humanitarian Impact
Guterres highlighted the significant civilian casualties and destruction in Gaza, noting the objective to dismantle Hamas remains unfulfilled despite extensive damage to the region. He suggested there are substantial reasons to suspect the occurrence of war crimes since the conflict's onset over two years ago.
In response, Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon criticized Guterres for allegedly misusing his platform to denounce Israel, pointing out the lack of a visit to Israel by Guterres since the conflict's beginning.
Reports indicate that over 70,000 individuals have perished in Gaza since the initiation of hostilities on Oct 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack in southern Israel. A US-mediated ceasefire, part of a 20-point peace plan, has been in effect since Oct 10, 2023. However, Israeli forces have purportedly breached the ceasefire multiple times, citing operations against Hamas infrastructure.
On Wed, Dec 3, 2025, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concerns over Israel's military operations in Gaza, suggesting potential violations of international law.
Recent incidents include the deaths of seven Palestinians, including two minors, following Israeli military actions on Dec 3, 2025. Since the ceasefire's implementation, Gaza's authorities report at least 591 violations, resulting in the deaths of 360 Palestinians and injuries to 922 others.
Guterres acknowledged the role of the United States in facilitating improved humanitarian access to Gaza, attributing progress to US pressure on Israel. He emphasized ongoing cooperation between the UN and the US in humanitarian efforts.
Despite agreement terms in the peace plan, Israel continues to limit aid entry into Gaza. On Dec 3, 2025, Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced that the Rafah Crossing would soon open solely for the exit of Gaza residents to Egypt, sparking concerns over potential long-term displacement of the population.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
