UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced deep concern on Wednesday over the escalating conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border, urging all involved parties and influencers to prevent the crisis from spreading further.
Guterres emphasized the urgency of averting a spillage of hostilities, emphasizing his continuous communication with Middle Eastern leaders following the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. His top priority remains halting the conflict's escalation.
In a press statement, Guterres stressed the need to safeguard civilians and demanded the release of more than 100 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
He mourned the loss of eleven UNRWA workers in the past four days due to Israeli shelling and called for urgent humanitarian aid, including food and water, to reach Gaza. Guterres expressed gratitude for Egypt's efforts in facilitating humanitarian access through the Rafah crossing and El Arish airport.
As the conflict entered its fifth day, Hamas militants continued firing rockets into Israeli communities near the border. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes persisted, targeting over 320 locations belonging to Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group within Gaza. Among the targets was a compound allegedly used for the production and storage of weapons, further escalating tensions in the region.