News - Middle East: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly urged both the Israeli occupation entity and leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas to pursue an agreement for a ceasefire and the release of detainees.

During a press conference in New York on Tuesday, Guterres emphasized the commitment to working towards a solution that terminates the occupation and establishes a viable Palestinian state.

He also appealed to countries allied with the occupation to dissuade it from initiating a ground military operation in Rafah, southern Gaza, highlighting the potential catastrophic consequences for Palestinians in Gaza and beyond.

Guterres stressed the imperative of preventing a man-made famine by ensuring that humanitarian efforts, convoys, facilities, and individuals are not targeted.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israel announced it would carry out its ground offensive in Rafah regardless of the outcome of the ongoing ceasefire talks.

Rafah has turned into a tent city since Israel started its genocidal campaign in early October.

The Palestinian city is currently hosting one and a half million displaced people from across the besieged territory.

Israel began its brutal onslaught on October 7.

Israel, which currently faces genocidal crimes at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has killed 34,500 Palestinians since last October when it waged a bloody war on the Gaza Strip.

Over 77,643 other Palestinians have also been injured, and around 8,400 may be trapped under rubble.