UN chief: Hamas brutality ‘can never justify collective punishment’ of Palestinians

By AFP 8 December 2023, 5:30 pm 13 Edit

A handout picture released by the Cuban presidency press office showing the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a press conference at the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai on December 2, 2023. (Photo by Alejandro Azcuy / PRESIDENCIA CUBA / AFP)

UNITED NATIONS — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says that Hamas brutality can never justify “collective punishment” of Palestinians as Israel presses its campaign against the terror group in the Gaza Strip.

“Some 130 hostages are still held captive. I call for their immediate and unconditional release, as well as their humane treatment and visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross until they are freed,” Guterres says at an emergency meeting of the organization’s Security Council.

“At the same time, the brutality perpetrated by Hamas can never justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”