Baghdad / NINA / -The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, described the hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians as “extremely horrific”, expressing his shock at the number of civilians killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes.
In a speech delivered during a session of the UN Security Council today, Guterres said that the ongoing hostilities between the Israeli forces and the Palestinian factions are “extremely horrific,” noting that he is “shocked” by the number of victims among the Palestinian civilian population, especially children and women, as a result of the Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip .
He pointed out that “the only way forward is to return to negotiations with the aim of establishing two states to coexist side by side in peace and security with mutual recognition of each other, and considering al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of both states, in accordance with United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements.”
He stressed that the escalation of tension around the Gaza Strip could lead to an unmanageable security and humanitarian crisis in the entire region.
Guterres stressed that the fighting must stop immediately, and called on all parties to allow the mediation efforts to progress and succeed.
He added that the United Nations is pushing all parties strongly towards an immediate ceasefire. / End
Source: National Iraqi News Agency