Antonio Guterres warns Israel’s decision to seize Gaza City could unleash “catastrophic” consequences, as Jerusalem accuses the UN of moral bankruptcy and ignoring Hamas’s actions.
UNITED NATIONS / JERUSALEM — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday unleashed one of his sharpest rebukes yet against Israel, calling its newly approved plan to seize control of Gaza City a “dangerous escalation” that could push an already devastated population into even deeper chaos.
“The Secretary-General is gravely alarmed by the decision of the Israeli Government to ‘take control of Gaza City,’” his spokesperson said, warning that the move could worsen the “catastrophic consequences” already endured by millions of Palestinians and potentially endanger the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Guterres painted a grim picture, predicting more forced displacement, mass destruction, and killings, while urging a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, and the immediate release of all hostages. He reiterated that “Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State” and insisted there can be no lasting peace without ending what he called Israel’s “unlawful occupation.”
Israel’s Five-Point War Plan
Early Friday, Israel’s Cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to decisively defeat Hamas. The plan includes:
- Disarming Hamas
- The return of all hostages (alive or deceased)
- Demilitarizing Gaza
- Maintaining Israeli security control over the Strip
- Establishing a civilian administration not run by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority
Long-Running Clash Between Guterres and Israel
This is far from the first confrontation between the UN chief and Jerusalem. Just weeks after the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, Guterres claimed the attack “did not happen in a vacuum,” a remark widely condemned as shifting blame onto Israel. Though he later said he was misunderstood, his criticism of Israeli counterterrorism operations has remained consistent — extending to strikes on Hamas, Hezbollah, and even Houthi targets in Yemen.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry blasted Guterres in a fiery statement:
“We are outraged that you, Antonio Guterres, are the Secretary-General of the UN,” said spokesperson Oren Marmorstein.
“Not a word about Hamas rejecting two US-backed ceasefire proposals that Israel accepted. Not a word about Hamas exploiting humanitarian aid to rebuild its war machine. Not a word about UNRWA employing Hamas operatives and housing hostages in its facilities. Indeed, we are outraged by your moral bankruptcy.”
With global opinion deeply split, the war of words between the UN and Israel now mirrors the battlefield itself — unyielding, high-stakes, and with no sign of a ceasefire in sight.
