Guterres calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations chief has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, advocating for an independent Palestinian state.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued the call while speaking to reporters on the eve of the opening of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

He also stressed the need for the immediate release of hostages and the effective delivery of humanitarian aid to Gazans, Al Jazeera reported o Monday.

The world could not have double standards on the Middle East, he remarked, insisting on the application of the same principles everywhere.

Guterres said: “We need to apply the [UN] Charter, International Law and International Humanitarian Law.”

While advocating for a two-state solution, he reiterated the right of the Palestinian people to statehood must be guaranteed.

“We need immediately a ceasefire, the immediate release of the hostages, and effective humanitarian aid to Gaza,” the secretary-general added.

He urged the G20 group of developed economies to lead global efforts to bring about peace, climate action, fairer international financial institutions and equitable access to emerging technologies.

‘Unfair’ international financial system

The secretary-general highlighted the situation of vulnerable countries which “face tremendous headwinds and obstacles that are not of their making.”

He noted such countries were not getting adequate support from the current international financial architecture.

PAN Monitor/mud