United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Israel to reopen humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip after the closure of key aid crossings, a UN spokesman said Monday.
Following waves of Iranian missile attacks on Israel late Sunday, the Israeli authorities closed several crossings, including the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing and the Rafah crossing, on Monday.
The secretary-general is "deeply concerned" by the Israeli decision to close the crossings and suspend the entry of supplies into Gaza, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for Guterres.
"He (Guterres) calls for the immediate resumption of humanitarian movements at scale into and throughout Gaza and urges all parties to facilitate the rapid, safe, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance in accordance with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law," said Haq.
Guterres underscored that humanitarian assistance is "indispensable" for the survival and well-being of civilians in Gaza, noted Haq, adding that "humanitarian needs remain immense and access must remain predictable, sustained, and unimpeded."
The spokesman said it was not known when Israel intended to reopen the crossings.
UN chief calls for reopening of aid crossings into Gaza
