UN chief decries ‘collective punishment’ of Palestinians
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has again expressed concern over the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and called for a two-state solution to “deliver sustainable peace”.
In a series of posts on X, he wrote:
“Nothing justifies the atrocious October 7 terror attacks by Hamas. And nothing justifies the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
Guterres also called for a permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of Israeli captives and the “free flow of humanitarian aid” into Gaza.
He went on to urge the world to stay focused on the “terrible situation” in the occupied West Bank.
“Annexation is illegal,” he said. “Settlements are illegal.”
In addition to Gaza, we must also stay focused on the terrible situation in the occupied West Bank.
Annexation is illegal.
Settlements are illegal.
Only a two-State solution can deliver sustainable peace:
Israel & Palestine living side-by-side in peace & security.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 18, 2025
‘We can’t be complicit in starving kids to death’
Ben Cohen, the cofounder of the famed US ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, has urged Americans to speak out against starvation in Gaza.
“We are expected to be good Americans and look the other way as Israel prevents food, water, and medicine from reaching the remaining people of Gaza,” Cohen said in a post on X.
“Israel is literally starving them to death… We must speak out and demand a change in policy,” he added.
“We can’t be complicit in starving kids to death.”
Cohen, who is Jewish, was arrested last week for disrupting a Senate hearing to protest US’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza.
We are expected to be good Americans and look the other way as Israel prevents food, water, and medicine from reaching the remaining people of Gaza. Israel is literally starving them to death…We must speak out and demand a change in policy. We can’t be complicit in starving kids…
— Ben Cohen (@YoBenCohen) May 18, 2025
Canada’s prime minister calls for ‘life-saving’ aid to reach Gaza
Mark Carney’s office says the Canadian leader “stressed the imperative of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza” during his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the Vatican City on Sunday.
Carney also “called for urgent, life-saving humanitarian aid to reach civilians and affirmed Canada’s support for a two-state solution”.
He “reiterated the need for Hamas to release all hostages” and agreed with Herzog that “Hamas must lay down its weapons and have no future role in the governance of Gaza”.
Carney also met with the executive director of the World Food Programme, Cindy H McCain, and “emphasised Canada’s $100 million support earlier this year” to provide food and humanitarian aid to Gaza.
