Crisis in Gaza Is Not Just Humanitarian—It’s a Profound Moral Catastrophe Challenging Global Conscience: UN Secretary-General António Guterres
[Hamilton, Canada – July 26, 2025] —
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday described the ongoing crisis in Gaza as not only a humanitarian emergency but also a “profound moral catastrophe” that is “challenging the conscience of the world.”
In a virtual address to Amnesty International’s Global Assembly, Guterres stated:
“Powerful forces have gathered against human rights and the international system established to protect them.”
Condemning the ongoing violations of international law, he said:
“There can be no justification for Israel’s relentless assault on Gaza.”
He added, “The explosion of death and destruction that began on October 7 cannot be justified under any circumstances.”
“The scale and intensity of this conflict surpass anything seen in recent times,” he said.
Expressing dismay, Guterres remarked:
“I cannot explain the indifference and inaction by so many in the international community. There is no compassion. No truth. No humanity.”
He revealed that many UN field workers in Gaza are so emotionally traumatized that they say, “They are neither dead nor alive—just numb.”
Even children say, “They want to go to heaven because at least there is food there.”
“This is not just a humanitarian crisis—it is a moral crisis that questions the very conscience of the world.”
Guterres called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unobstructed humanitarian access.
He stated,
“Since May 27, according to UN figures, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while trying to collect food.”
“They didn’t die in combat—they died from hunger while desperately searching for food.”
Guterres continued,
“I say again: One thousand people died—not in battle, but of hunger—while an entire population is starving.”
“You cannot feed starving children with words,” he warned, adding that the United Nations is prepared to scale up humanitarian operations throughout Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, 9 more Palestinians died of hunger in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from starvation to 122.
Meanwhile, the UN reported that since June 30, at least 294 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks while trying to access humanitarian aid.
Since Hamas launched a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 Israelis, Israel has launched a massive military campaign in Gaza that has so far killed more than 59,700 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children.
This Israeli offensive has completely devastated Gaza’s health system and created an extreme food crisis.
Back in November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Additionally, Israel is facing a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over allegations of committing genocide in Gaza.
