The EU foreign policy chief on Thursday defended UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' remarks on the Israel-Palestine conflict from criticism in some quarters, saying his words had been "distorted."
Guterres condemned "unequivocally the horrifying and unprecedented 7 October acts of terror by Hamas in Israel," Josep Borrell said on X. "He was also clear that all civilian lives are worth the same and that IHL (international humanitarian law) applies to all, before and after 7/10."
Borrell underlined that the EU "fully" supports the work of Guterres and UN staff in favor of peace and for human relief in the Middle East and all over the world.
On Wednesday Guterres called for a cease-fire in the conflict, adding that Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel did not happen in a vacuum.
Saying that he "condemned unequivocally the horrifying and unprecedented 7 October acts of terror by Hamas in Israel," Guterres also pointed to Palestinians undergoing "56 years of suffocating occupation," while adding that these "cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas."
In response, Israel's foreign minister said Guterres does not live in "our world," and Israel's ambassador to the UN called on the UN chief to resign.
Guterres, saying he was "shocked by the misinterpretations" of his remarks, reiterated his appeal for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire to "ease suffering, make the delivery of aid easier and safer and facilitate the release of hostages."
The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood-a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.
Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
More than 7,900 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 6,546 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.
