UN Chief: Nothing can justify collective punishment of Palestinians

António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, reiterated his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza while visiting the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza.

"I am deeply troubled to know so many people in Gaza will not be able to have a proper iftar," he said, expressing outrage that, despite Gaza's hunger, thousands of trucks with aid have been blocked on the Egyptian side of the border.

"Nothing can justify what happened on October 7. But nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people either. Entire families are being wiped out, homes are being demolished, and people are suffering from hunger. We must be on the right side of history and broker a ceasefire," the UN secretary-general said.

On March 222, a US resolution urging a ceasefire in Gaza linked to a hostage deal was vetoed by Russia and China in the UN Security Council.