to report «iusnews»; UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the deadly blast at a hospital in Gaza while speaking Wednesday at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China.
Guterres said he was "horrified" by the hundreds of people killed following the blast Tuesday and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the region, CNN reported.
"I am fully aware of the deep grievances of the Palestinian people after 56 years of occupation, but as serious as these grievances are, they cannot justify the acts of terror against civilians committed by Hamas on October 7 that I immediately condemned. But those attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," Guterres said Wednesday.
Guterres emphasized that hospitals along with clinics, medical personnel, and UN premises are protected under international law, according to a statement from UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
The Secretary-General also condemned the attack on a UNRWA school in Al-Maghazi refugee camp in Gaza on Tuesday which killed at least six people, the statement said.
“The Secretary-General extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a swift recovery to those injured,” the statement said.
Guterres is expected to travel to Egypt later this week where he will meet with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and others on the situation in the region, according to Dujarric.
Guterres has previously appealed for the release of “hostages” being held by Hamas in Gaza and for international aid to be allowed into the enclave. On Wednesday, he said these requests are not "bargaining chips", but "simply the right thing to do".
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Tur also said the Gaza hospital blast that left at least hundreds of people dead was "unacceptable", according to a statement released on Tuesday from the Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.
“Words fail me. Tonight, hundreds of people were killed –- horrifically -– in a massive strike ... including patients, healthcare workers and families that had been seeking refuge in and around the hospital. Once again the most vulnerable. This is totally unacceptable,” Turk said.
Hospitals are sacrosanct and the killings and violence must stop, Turk said. He added those responsible for the hospital blast must be held accountable.
Turk urged all states with influence to do everything in their power to stop the current situation.
“Civilians must be protected, and humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach those in need as a matter of urgency. Those found responsible must be held to account,” he said.
The Health Ministry in Gaza said on Tuesday that at least 500 people were killed in Israeli air raid on Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in central Gaza.
Israel launched the assault on Gaza after Hamas resistance movement carried out a surprise operation from the territory in Southern Israel.
Since Israel began pounding Gaza from the air on October 7, tens of thousands of people seeking refuge from the bombardment have fled to hospitals throughout Gaza.
