UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that Gaza is experiencing an extreme humanitarian crisis, describing the situation as a “killing field” where civilians are trapped in a continuous cycle of death. His remarks, made on Tuesday, follow Israel’s re-imposition of a blockade and resumption of military operations against Hamas, which has exacerbated the suffering in the Gaza Strip.
Guterres condemned the lack of aid and the ongoing violence, stating that “the floodgates of horror have re-opened” and that Gaza’s civilian population is enduring unimaginable hardship. He emphasized that Israel, as the occupying power, has a legal responsibility to ensure the delivery of food and medical supplies under international law.
In response, Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed Guterres’ claims, insisting that there is no shortage of aid in Gaza. A spokesperson for the ministry accused Guterres of spreading “slander” and reiterated that over 25,000 aid trucks have entered Gaza in the last 42 days.
The situation in Gaza has worsened since the blockade was re-imposed on March 2, after a ceasefire expired and Hamas refused to extend it. Following the breakdown of the truce, Israeli forces resumed airstrikes and a ground offensive on March 18, resulting in significant casualties. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, 1,449 Palestinians have been killed since then, although Israel maintains it does not target civilians.
A joint statement from six UN agencies, including UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), stressed the urgent need for world leaders to act to provide food and medical supplies. The statement warned that Gaza’s health system is overwhelmed, with hospitals rationing essential medicines and bakeries shut down due to the blockade.
The statement also highlighted the dire situation of civilians, saying that while a temporary ceasefire allowed some aid to reach Gaza, “assertions that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground.” Many areas are running out of basic supplies, and Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse.
With the blockade in its second month, the UN is calling for immediate action to uphold international humanitarian law, protect civilians, ensure aid access, release hostages, and renew the ceasefire.
The two-month pause in fighting had allowed a brief influx of humanitarian aid, alongside the release of 33 hostages by Hamas, though eight of them were found dead. The humanitarian situation remains urgent, and the UN is calling for decisive global intervention.
