"The entire population of Gaza is suffering destruction on a scale and speed unmatched in recent history."
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said this underlining that "nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people", as well as "the deliberate killing, wounding, kidnapping of civilians, the use of sexual violence against them" by Hamas in Israel.
He also said he was "deeply troubled by reports of Israel's inhumane treatment of Palestinians detained during military operations."
The UN secretary general then underlined that the Israeli government's rejection of the two-state solution and denial of the Palestinian people's right to statehood risks exacerbating polarization and encouraging extremists everywhere.
"The role of the international community is clear," he added, "We must unite to support Israelis and Palestinians to take determined action to advance a meaningful peace process."
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