By Merve Aydogan
HAMILTON, Canada (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned about the devastating consequences of Israel's military actions to take over Gaza City, while sounding an alarm about the worsening humanitarian "catastrophe" in the enclave.
"Israel's initial steps to military take over Gaza City signal a new and dangerous phase," Guterres said at UN headquarters in New York, warning that "expanded military operations in Gaza City will have devastating consequences."
He condemned the Israeli strikes, noting that "we have seen yet more unconscionable Israeli strikes, including earlier this week at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. One attack was followed by another, killing civilians, including medical personnel and journalists who were carrying out their essential work."
"These attacks are part of an endless catalogue of horrors," he said. "There must be accountability."
On the dire humanitarian situation, Guterres stressed: "Let's be clear: The levels of death and destruction in Gaza are without parallel in recent times. Famine is no longer a looming possibility; it is a present-day catastrophe.
"People are dying from hunger. Families are being torn apart by displacement and despair. Pregnant women are facing unimaginable risks," he said.
Emphasizing that "the systems that sustain life, food, water, and health care have been systematically dismantled," Guterres added that "these are the facts on the ground."