In a recent Security Council meeting, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in Gaza, emphasizing its potential threat to global health. Guterres highlighted that the war has already spread from the occupied West Bank to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, with Israel launching airstrikes resulting in over 300 casualties, including children and young individuals.
Hamas claimed that their attempt to release an Israeli captive failed during the hostilities, with one Israeli soldier reported killed in the process. Simultaneously, rocket attacks targeted the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, and Israeli strikes in Syria resulted in four casualties. The United States vetoed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire during a Security Council session, opposing the motion while acknowledging the severe injuries sustained by its own forces.
Guterres urged an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza, stressing that the conflict poses a severe threat to global health. He criticized Israel for the use of Article 99, a controversial measure, and emphasized that the civilian population in Gaza should not face social consequences. The Israeli delegation, in turn, accused the United Nations of bias and criticized the Secretary-General for invoking Article 99.
Qatari delegate Aliyah Ahmed Al Thani, representing the Gulf Cooperation Council, condemned Israeli aggression and deemed it a violation of international law. She highlighted the legal culpability of Israel for its attacks against civilians, particularly women and children. Arab nations called for an end to the conflict and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Palestinian casualties continued to rise, with over 300 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes, bringing the total number of martyrs to 17,500, according to reports. Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for rocket attacks on several Israeli cities, citing them as retaliation for alleged ethnic cleansing in Gaza. The group also claimed to have destroyed nine Israeli military vehicles in Khan Younis, Sheikh Radwan, and Zaitoun City.
The conflict further escalated with Israeli airstrikes targeting a military hospital in Lebanon, though Lebanese authorities denied any casualties. In Iraq, a U.S. mission reported a rocket attack on the heavily fortified Green Zone housing the American embassy, causing minimal damage.
As the situation unfolds, the international community faces mounting challenges in addressing the complex dynamics of the conflict and its profound implications on global health and security.
