UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning about the escalating crisis in Gaza, calling the scale of destruction and civilian suffering “a catastrophe with no parallel in modern times.” His urgent appeal for a ceasefire comes as conditions on the ground spiral into what he described as a “humanitarian hell.”

Guterres stressed that the combination of relentless Israeli military operations and the prolonged blockade has brought life in Gaza to a breaking point. Essential services have collapsed, and Palestinians now face acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. Hospitals and desalination plants have shut down due to a lack of fuel, forcing residents to rely on unsafe, makeshift water points.

“The search for food and water should not be a death sentence,” Guterres said, referencing the rising number of civilians killed while trying to access aid. In a rare critique, he highlighted that the current aid mechanisms, including those supported by the United States, are contributing to the mounting civilian death toll and must be urgently overhauled.

He called on world powers to act immediately to secure safe and unconditional humanitarian corridors and demanded independent investigations into repeated attacks on civilians and aid distribution points. Emphasising the protection of children and civilian infrastructure, he reiterated the need for full compliance with international humanitarian law.

“There is no place in the world experiencing such destruction and suffering,” Guterres concluded, calling the situation in Gaza not just a crisis, but a stain on the conscience of the international community.