UN chief condemns Israeli strike on Rafah camp

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the Israeli strike on a camp for displaced people in Rafah, which killed 45 Palestinians, said his spokesman on Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

Guterres has condemned in the strongest terms Sunday's airstrikes on Rafah hitting tents sheltering displaced people. He is heartbroken by the images of the killed and injured, including many small children, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

As Guterres has said before, the horror and suffering must stop immediately, said the statement. "The secretary-general reiterates his demand for an immediate cease-fire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. He recalls the recent orders of the International Court of Justice, which are binding and must be complied with."

The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to halt its military offensive on Rafah.

The Israeli authorities must allow, facilitate and enable the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian supplies assistance to those in need and all crossing points must be open. Humanitarian organizations must have full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to reach all civilians in need across Gaza, said the statement.

"We must work expeditiously to restore security, dignity and hope for the affected population. This will require urgent efforts to support and strengthen the new Palestinian government and its institutions, including preparing the Palestinian Authority to reassume its responsibilities in Gaza. We must also move forward with tangible and irreversible steps to create a political horizon," it said.

The devastation and misery of the past seven months have reinforced the absolute need for Israelis, Palestinians, the states of the region and the broader international community to take urgent steps that will enable the parties to re-engage on the long-delayed political path to achieve a two-state solution. The United Nations will continue to support all such efforts, it said.