NEW YORK CITY: The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated the legal obligations of occupying powers under international law during a press conference held on Tuesday in New York.

He emphasized provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, stating that it is the responsibility of an occupying power to ensure the welfare of the civilian population, provide essential supplies such as food and medicine, and maintain public health services.

According to Guterres, these obligations are currently not being met in Gaza.

"None of that is happening today," he remarked, pointing out that humanitarian supplies cannot enter Gaza.

He noted the accumulation of food, medicine, and vital equipment at the crossing points, indicating a dire situation where critical resources remain inaccessible.

Guterres described the current condition in Gaza as approaching a dead end, categorizing it as "totally intolerable" in terms of international law.

He warned that unless prompt measures are taken to safeguard civilians in both Gaza and the West Bank, the latter could also face a similar humanitarian crisis.

In his remarks, Guterres called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, urging that full humanitarian access be restored.

He highlighted that it has now been over a month since aid has entered the territory, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis.

"More than an entire month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaza," he stated, raising alarms about the lack of food, fuel, medicine, and commercial supplies.

He criticized Israeli proposals to implement "authorization mechanisms" for aid delivery, which he argued could lead to further constraints on humanitarian assistance.

Guterres asserted that the UN would not be involved in any arrangements that do not adhere to fundamental humanitarian principles, including humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality.

Quterres characterized the situation in Gaza as a "killing field," where civilians face an "endless death loop" due to the blockade of essential supplies.

He noted the previous ceasefire between January and March as a period during which humanitarian organizations successfully delivered necessary aid.

"Guns fell silent, obstacles were removed, looting ended, and we were able to deliver lifesaving supplies to virtually every part of the Gaza Strip," he explained.

Expressing concern about the ongoing detention of hostages by Hamas and other militant groups, Guterres reiterated his call for their immediate release after meeting with their families.

He noted that the closure of crossing points into Gaza effectively paralyzes security and hampers humanitarian efforts.

He referenced a joint statement from UN humanitarian organizations asserting that claims of sufficient food supplies in Gaza profoundly misrepresent the reality, with many commodities in increasingly short supply.

Guterres concluded his address by reinforcing the importance of adhering to core humanitarian principles, calling for an end to dehumanization, the protection of civilians, the release of hostages, the restoration of lifesaving aid, and the renewal of the ceasefire.