UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the renewed Israeli blockade and military campaign in Gaza, warning that civilians are trapped in a “death loop” as humanitarian aid collapses.

“Gaza has become a killing field,” Guterres said on Tuesday. “Aid has dried up and the floodgates of horror have reopened.”

His remarks follow a stark joint plea from six UN agencies urging global leaders to act swiftly to ensure food and medical supplies reach the Palestinian population.

Israel, however, rejected the criticism. Its foreign ministry claimed there was no shortage of aid in Gaza, with over 25,000 aid trucks having entered during a recent 42-day ceasefire. “You don't let facts get in the way when slandering Israel,” spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said.

The ceasefire collapsed on 2 March, and Israeli air and ground operations resumed on 18 March. Since then, at least 1,449 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel maintains it targets militants, not civilians.

The UN warned that Gaza’s health system is on the verge of collapse, with bakeries closed, markets barren, and hospitals running out of essential supplies. UN-supported medical centres are rationing painkillers and antibiotics.

The two-month pause had enabled critical aid deliveries and the release of 33 Israeli hostages by Hamas, in exchange for nearly 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

Since fighting resumed, at least 58 more Palestinians have died in the past 24 hours, including children, local authorities said. Two Palestinian journalists also succumbed to injuries from an Israeli strike.

The conflict began on 7 October, when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. More than 50,800 Palestinians have died in the Israeli offensive since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1237 HRS, APR 09, 2025
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