On a press briefing, the UNSG described as unprecedented the high toll of casualties and catastrophic humanitarian conditions in Gaza Strip, the fate of hostages and the tensions spreading across the Middle East.

There is a solution to help address all these problems: we need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, ensure sufficient aid gets to where it is needed and facilitate the release of hostages to douse the flames of a wider war, Guterres noted. The longer the conflict in Gaza continues, the greater the risk of escalation and miscalculation, the authority further said.

The aggression against Gaza by Israeli forces has unleashed total destruction and levels of civilian killings at an unprecedented rate during my post as Secretary-General, Guterres granted.

In this context, the senior UN head insisted on the need for the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of humanitarian operations and fewer hindrances to access.

The obstacles to aid are clear and have been identified not only by the UN, but by officials worldwide who have seen the situation for themselves, he affirmed.

Likewise, Guterres recalled the spread of tensions across the occupied Palestinian territories, the Red Sea and the Lebanon-Israel border.

It is my duty to convey this simple and direct message to all sides: they must stop playing with fire across the Blue Line, de-escalate and bring hostilities to an end point in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1701, the high UN representative underscored.

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