Six months after Hamas's terrorist attack on southern Israel, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, described October 7 as a "day of pain for Israel and the world." Guterres stated in remarks published on social media platform X that he and the UN mourn for the 1,200 individuals, most of whom were civilians, "who were killed coldly." He said, "Nothing can justify the brutality that Hamas unleashed on October 7." In this video, the UN Secretary-General also condemned the use of sexual violence, torture, injuring and kidnapping civilians, firing rockets at civilian targets, and the use of human shields, stating: "I call for the unconditional release of all hostages still held by Hamas and other armed groups." The day before, the Hamas militant group announced in a statement that a delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya, the group's deputy in Gaza, would go to Cairo on Sunday, April 19, "in response to the invitation of Egyptian mediators" for ceasefire talks regarding Gaza. According to Reuters, citing the Egyptian news agency "Al-Qahira," Bill Burns, the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is expected to participate in the Sunday negotiations along with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Qatari Foreign Minister, and an Israeli delegation. Earlier, Joe Biden, the US President, had asked the leaders of Egypt and Qatar on Friday, April 17, to pressure Hamas to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages it holds before the new round of negotiations in Cairo begins. Hamas militants took more than 250 people hostage during the attacks on Israel on October 7 last year and transferred them to Gaza. Some hostages were released during a one-week ceasefire, but over 100 remain in the hands of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Reports suggest that some of these hostages may have been killed. The UN Security Council approved a resolution for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza. The UN Secretary-General stated that land routes are the only effective way to deliver aid to Gaza. Israel's response to Guterres's criticisms: The UN has become an anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli entity. Guterres called for unrestricted access for Gaza's civilians to humanitarian aid.
UN Secretary-General: Nothing Can Justify the Brutality Hamas Unleashed on October 7
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Hamas's actions on October 7, calling it a day of pain and mourning for the victims. He emphasized the need for the unconditional release of hostages and condemned various forms of violence. The situation remains tense as negotiations for a ceasefire are set to take place in Cairo involving key international actors.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
UN Secretary-General condemned Hamas's brutality on October 7 and called for hostages' release.
- Antonio Guterres condemn Hamas
- Antonio Guterres call for release all hostages held by Hamas
- Hamas negotiate Egyptian mediators
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The UN's condemnation of Hamas highlights ongoing tensions and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
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