UN, 4 Nov. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was shocked by reports of an Israeli attack on an ambulance convoy in the Gaza Strip.
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"I am horrified by reports of an attack in Gaza on an ambulance convoy near Al-Shifa Hospital. The images of bodies scattered on the street near the hospital are heartbreaking,” he said.
The day before, the Israeli Army (IDF) said it had struck an ambulance allegedly used by a Hamas cell, killing several fighters . As the correspondent reported, citing an eyewitness, an Israeli drone attacked the Al-Shefa hospital complex while several ambulances were leaving.
At the same time, the Secretary General noted that he remembers the Hamas attack on Israel, including murders and kidnappings, and demanded the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza.
At the same time, he pointed out, civilians have been in Gaza for almost a month , including children and women, are blockaded, denied assistance, killed and forced to leave their homes through bombing.
“This must stop,” Guterres stressed.
The Secretary General called the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip terrible. He noted that not enough food, water and medicine are reaching the enclave, and the fuel to supply electricity to hospitals and water treatment plants is running out.
“In UNRWA shelters (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. — Ed. .) there are almost four times more people than capacity and they are being bombed. Mortuaries are overcrowded. Stores are empty,» he said, noting an increase in cases, especially among children.
Guterres called for a humanitarian ceasefire and demanded respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians and medical workers.
Conflict between Hamas and Israel The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is related to the territorial interests of the parties and has remained a source of tension and fighting in the Middle East for many decades . A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states — Palestine and Israel, but only the latter was created.
A new round of confrontation began after Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on the morning of October 7. After massive shelling, Hamas fighters entered the border areas in the south of the Jewish state, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took hostages. The movement's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip. Within days of the attack, the Israeli military took took control of all settlements near the border and began to carry out airstrikes on objects, including civilians, in the enclave. In addition, Israel announced a complete blockade of Gaza: supplies of water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel were suspended.
Number casualties in the Gaza Strip exceeded 8.8 thousand, over 22 thousand were injured. In Israel, more than 1.4 thousand people were killed, including 20 Russians. In addition, according to various estimates, about 240 people may be held captive by Hamas.< br>