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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Calls for Urgent Humanitarian Ceasefire at Rafah Crossing

October 20, 2023
United Nations Secretary General at Raffah Crossing. Photo credit: UN Egypt/Mohamed Elkoossy.

UN Secretary-General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres held a press conference on Friday, 20 October, at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire.” “We are actively engaging with all the parties in order to clarify these restrictions so we can have these trucks moving towards where they’re needed. We need these trucks moving as soon as possible,” he said. Egypt has started removing concrete barriers at the Rafah crossing, according to an Egyptian security source who informed AFP on Friday, 20 October. Witnesses reported that Egyptian vehicles and equipment entered the Palestinian side to repair the roads that had been bombed earlier by Israeli airstrikes. Guterres visited Egypt on Thursday, 19 October, to meet with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. The two held a joint press conference, during which the UNSG reiterated the critical importance of upholding international humanitarian law and ensuring the safety of civilians. He further emphasized that international law unequivocally prohibits attacks on hospitals, schools, and United Nations facilities. In Al Arish, he continued, “We have two million people here suffering tremendously. There is no water, no food, no medicine, no fuel. Gaza…


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