News - Middle East: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the October 7th attacks cannot be an excuse for Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinian civilians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

In a statement issued for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Guterres said the October 7 attack “cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
The UN chief added that Palestinians were going through “one of the darkest chapters” of their history.
He reiterated his call for a “long-term” ceasefire and the release of captives held by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and Palestinian prisoners languishing in Israeli prisons. 
Guterres also stressed that Palestinians were going through “one of the darkest chapters” of their history. 
He called for “unrestricted access to lifesaving aid, the release of all hostages, the protection of civilians, and an end to violations of international humanitarian law.”