UN chief says violations of law in Gaza, urges immediate ceasefire

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday alleged violations of international law in Gaza and urged an immediate ceasefire as Israel pounds the Palestinian territory, with the crisis deeply dividing the Security Council.
Israel voiced anger over the UN chief's plea before a high-level session of the Security Council, where the Palestinian foreign minister in turn denounced what he described as inaction in the conflict that has killed thousands on both sides, mostly civilians.
Opening the session, Guterres said there was no excuse for the "appalling" violence by Hamas militants on October 7 but also warned against "collective punishment" of the Palestinians.
"I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza. Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law," Guterres said, without explicitly naming Israel.
Guterres said that the Palestinians had been "subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation," telling the Security Council: "It is important to also recognise the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum."
His remarks infuriated Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen who, pointing his finger at Guterres and raising his voice, recounted graphic accounts of civilians including young children killed on October 7.
"Mr Secretary-General, in what world do you live?" Cohen said.
Rejecting tying the violence to the occupation, Cohen said Israel gave Gaza to the Palestinians "to the last millimeter" with its withdrawal in 2005.
Israel shortly afterward imposed a blockade of the impoverished territory, in place ever since, after Hamas took power, and it still occupies the West Bank.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, called on Guterres to resign -- writing on X, formerly known as Twitter.
More than 5,700 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, have been killed across the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments, the territory's health ministry said.
Guterres, who personally traveled to the crossing between Egypt and Gaza in a push to let in assistance, welcomed the crossing of three aid convoys so far through the Rafah crossing.
But Guterres said it was "a drop of aid in an ocean of need," as the UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned it would be forced to stop working Wednesday due to lack of fuel.
"To ease epic suffering, make the delivery of aid easier and safer, and facilitate the release of hostages, I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire."
Israel, backed by the United States, has rejected calls to halt the offensive, saying it would only allow Hamas to regroup.
The United States last week vetoed a draft resolution on the crisis, saying it did not sufficiently support Israel's right to respond to Hamas.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken asked the Security Council to back a new US-led resolution that "incorporates substantive feedback."
The draft, seen by AFP, would defend the "inherent right of all states" to self-defense while calling for compliance with international law. It would back "humanitarian pauses" to let in aid but not a full ceasefire.
"No member of this council -- no nation in this entire body -- could or would tolerate the slaughter of its people," Blinken said.
Veto-wielding Russia quickly said it would oppose the US draft.
"The main sign that the whole world is expecting from the Security Council is a call for a swift and unconditional ceasefire on the opposing parties. This is precisely what is not in the American draft," said Russia's ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia.
The foreign minister of the Palestinian Authority, run by Hamas rivals, called inaction by the Security Council "inexcusable."
"The ongoing massacres being deliberately and systematically and savagely perpetrated by Israel -- the occupying power against the Palestinian civilian population under illegal occupation -- must be stopped," Riyad al-Maliki said.
With the Security Council deadlocked, the General Assembly, whose decisions are non-binding, will also take up the crisis Thursday at the request of a number of countries including Jordan and Russia.