UN chief calls on Hamas to immediately release hostages without conditions
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres has called on Hamas to “immediately” release the hostages without keeping any sort of conditions.
In a post on social media platform X, Guterres made two humanitarian appeals amid the present situation in the Middle East.
“As we are on the verge of the abyss in the Middle East, I have two humanitarian appeals: To Hamas, the hostages must be immediately released without conditions,” he posted.
“To Israel, rapid & unimpeded access for humanitarian aid must be granted for the sake of the civilians in Gaza,” he added
Guterres emphasized that both of these objectives should not be used as bargaining chips and must be implemented because they are the right thing to do. He pointed out that Gaza is facing severe shortages of water, electricity, and essential supplies.
The situation in the Middle East has been marked by significant casualties, with 1,300 people killed and over 3,600 injured in Hamas terror attacks, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. Israeli Defense Minister Gallant estimated that 150-200 Israelis are being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and efforts are underway to locate them.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would not be broken by Hamas. He emphasized unity within the Israeli government and sent a clear message to Hamas and the world that they are working together as a cohesive team.
During a weekly cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister and his ministers observed a minute of silence to honor those who lost their lives in the Hamas attack. Netanyahu stated that it was the first meeting of the emergency war government and highlighted the presence of key members, including Benny Gantz, Gadi Eisenkot, Chili Tropper, Gideon Sa’ar, and Yifat Shasha-Biton.
Netanyahu further emphasized the nation’s strong support for the front-line warriors and their determination to face the threat posed by those who rose against them. He expressed confidence in their readiness to take action when needed to eliminate the threat.
