The UN secretary-general condemned Hamas in a statement on Saturday, ahead of the anniversary of the Palestinian group’s October 7 attack, and called for an immediate end to the “shocking violence and bloodshed” in Gaza and Lebanon.
Monday marked one year since Israel’s devastating attack that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, now with Lebanon also drawn into the fray and world leaders warning of a potential regional crisis.
“This is a day for the global community to reiterate in the loudest voice our condemnation of Hamas’s despicable acts, including its hostage-taking,” UN chief Antonio Guterres said in an anniversary message released Saturday evening.
Calling for the “immediate and unconditional release” of the hostages, Guterres also urged Hamas to allow Red Cross personnel to visit the hostages.
Of the 251 people abducted by Hamas militants on October 7, 97 are still held in Gaza, 33 of whom have been declared dead by Israeli forces.
Guterres also expressed concern over the conflict spreading to Lebanon, where in recent days Israel has attacked Hamas-allied group Hezbollah, killing more than a thousand people and forcing more than a million to flee their homes. Was forced to.
“The war that followed the horrific attacks a year ago is devastating the lives of Palestinians in Gaza and now the people of Lebanon and causing deep human suffering,” Guterres said.
The October 7 attack on Israel killed 1,205 people, mostly civilians, including hostages who died in captivity, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza have so far killed at least 41,825 people, most of them civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory. The United Nations has said that these figures are reliable.
“Since October 7, a wave of shocking violence and bloodshed has erupted,” Guterres said.
“Now is the time to release the hostages,” he said. “Time to silence the guns. Time to stop the suffering in the region. Time for peace, international law and justice.”
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