A humanitarian ceasefire is the only way to begin meeting the desperate needs of the people in the enclave and end their ongoing nightmare, the UN chief said in a press appearance as the security body approved the project.

“I hope the resolution will help make this happen eventually, but much more is needed immediately,” he added.

In the opinion of the high representative, an effective humanitarian operation in the Strip requires security, personnel who can work safely, logistical capacity and the resumption of commercial activity.

“The real problem is that the way Israel is carrying out this offensive is creating enormous obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid inside Gaza,” he acknowledged.

The top UN official also warned about comments by senior Israeli officials that call into question the two-state solution.

As difficult as it may seem today, that is the only path to sustainable peace, he insisted.

Any suggestion to the contrary denies human rights, dignity and hope to the Palestinian people, fueling anger that resurges far beyond Gaza and denies a secure future for Israel, he added.

In that sense, the senior diplomat advocated the creation of conditions that allow the Palestinian Authority to assume responsibilities in the Strip.

“That is, in our opinion, the solution for the two states to become a reality, and there is energy in our project,” he added.

The secretary general lamented the murder of 136 UN colleagues inside the enclave in 75 days, “something we have never seen in the history of the United Nations.”

“I honor the women and men who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and I pay tribute to the thousands of humanitarian workers who are risking their health and their lives in Gaza, even as I speak,” he noted.

Guterres warned of the risks of expansion of the crisis that reaches the West Bank, the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel while threatening maritime transport in the Red Sea.

Beyond the immediate region, the conflict is polarizing communities, fueling hate speech and extremism, he said.

As the conflict escalates, we will continue to do our part, but at the same time, it is imperative that the international community speaks with one voice: for peace, for the protection of civilians, for an end to suffering and for commitment with the two-state solution, he concluded.

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