UN chief condemns 'collective punishment' of Palestinians

He describes the suffering in Gaza as unimaginable but is hopeful of a ceasefire

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Nothing justifies Israel's collective punishment of the people of Gaza as they endure "unimaginable" suffering, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told AFP on Sept 16.

Mr Guterres lashed out at Israel's handling of its war in the devastated Palestinian territory, now almost in its second year, as the UN prepares to host world leaders starting next week.

"It is unimaginable, the level of suffering in Gaza, the level of deaths and destruction have no parallel in everything I've witnessed since (becoming) secretary-general," said Mr Guterres, who has led the embattled international organisation since 2017.

"We all condemn the terror attacks made by Hamas, as well as the taking of the hostages, that is an absolute violation of international humanitarian law," he said.

“But the truth is that nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, and that is what we are witnessing in a dramatic way in Gaza," he added, decrying the widespread carnage and hunger blighting Gaza.

On Oct 7, Hamas fighters infiltrated into southern Israel, unleashing unprecedented violence that killed 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP toll including hostages killed in captivity.