UPDATE - Gaza 'key' to ending violence in Middle East, says UN chief

ADDS MORE QUOTES BY GUTERRES

By Merve Aydogan

HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday warned of the escalating violence in the Middle East, saying "Gaza is key to ending it".

"War in Lebanon could lead to further escalation involving outside powers," Guterres said at a UN Security Council session on Palestine, which was called by Algeria.

Describing the Israeli attacks on Monday "the bloodiest day in Lebanon since 2006," Guterres expressed support for a temporary cease-fire for aid delivery in Lebanon.

Noting the need for "this ceasefire now," Guterres said: "We must avoid a regional war at all costs."

"Gaza remains the epicenter of the violence," he added.

Stating that devastation caused by relentless bombardments and hostilities continues, he said "Gaza is key to ending" the violence in the region.

Guterres denounced the "collective punishment of the Palestinian people," and highlighted the plight of millions of forcibly displaced Gazans, the majority of whom are children.

"The humanitarian system is hanging by a thread. 225 of our own colleagues have been killed, many with their families," he said, and called for investigation and accountability for the killings.

Highlighting the violence in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Guterres called on Israel to abide by the "advisory opinion" of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on its "unlawful" presence in occupied Palestinian territories.

Citing Israel's continued prevention and limit of international media from reporting from the occupied Palestinian territories, Guterres said: "International media outlets are the eyes and ears of the world. Journalists must be able to do their jobs."

Guterres described Gaza as "the most dangerous place in the world" for aid delivery, and reminded that "crossing points into Gaza remain restricted or inaccessible."

"So far this month, almost half of coordinated humanitarian movements in Gaza were denied access or otherwise impeded by the Israeli authorities," he said, adding the 87% of movements between north and south Gaza were denied or impeded by Israel.

He called for all parties to respect their obligations, protect civilians, and allow for unhindered humanitarian access.

"Aid must flow freely and safely," he said, condemning Israeli attacks on humanitarian workers and emphasizing the importance of accountability for these actions.

Israel has pounded Lebanon since Monday morning, killing over 700 people and injuring nearly 2,200 others, according to figures released by the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The ministry also said that the death toll in Lebanon since last October is 1,540, in addition to more than 77,000 displaced from southern and eastern parts of the country.

Hezbollah and Israel have been engaged in cross-border warfare since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed more than 41,500 people, mostly women and children, following a cross-border attack by Hamas last Oct. 7.

The international community has warned against the strikes on Lebanon, as they raise the specter of turning the Gaza conflict into a regional war.