Israel's military operations in Gaza hampering aid delivery, says UN chief

"Many individuals gauge the success of humanitarian initiatives in the Gaza Strip based on the quantity of truckloads from the Egyptian Red Crescent, the UN, and our partners that successfully cross the border. This is a misguided perception," emphasised Guterres.

"The genuine problem is the manner in which Israel is managing its offensive, which results in massive hurdles in the dissemination of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip," the UN chief said, renewing his plea for a "ceasefire". He raised the point that humanitarian aid is the solitary route to meet the urgent needs of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip and put an end to the horrific situation they are currently enduring.

Guterres also expressed that his expectations from the UN Security Council were not met. On Friday, the council adopted a resolution advocating measures to provide Palestinians with unimpeded access to humanitarian aid and establish conditions for a permanent cessation of war. However, it fell short of calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

He expressed his disappointment towards "some comments from high-ranking Israeli officials that challenged the idea of a two-state solution" as a resolution for conflict in the Middle East.

"Although it appears to be challenging in the current context, a two-state solution, abiding by UN resolutions, international law, and prior agreements, remains as the only pathway to sustainable peace," he proclaimed.

Meanwhile, Gilad Erdan, Israel's ambassador to the UN, criticised the UN Security Council for endorsing Friday's resolution. "The UN's singular focus on aid procedures for the Gaza Strip is unnecessary and disconnected from reality. Israel already permits aid deliveries on the required scale. The UN should instead concentrate on the humanitarian crisis concerning hostages," he remarked.