Warns Of Casualties Due To Israeli Operations, UN Secretary General Urges Ceasefire To Be Immediately In Gaza

JAKARTA - United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Palestine after Israel announced the first step of operation to seize Gaza City.

"It is imperative to immediately reach a ceasefire in Gaza," which is needed "to avoid inevitable deaths and destruction as a result of military operations against Gaza City," Secretary General Guterres in Japan said while attending the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.

Israel, which has deployed tens of thousands of reserve troops, continues its plan to seize Gaza's largest city center despite international criticism of operations that are likely to force more Palestinians to flee. Israel currently controls about 75 percent of the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, the Israeli military announced the first step of operation to take over Gaza City on Wednesday, deploying tens of thousands of reserve troops while the government is considering a new ceasefire proposal to halt the war that has lasted nearly two years.

"We have started the initial and first phase of the attack on Gaza City, and currently IDF forces have taken control of the outskirts of Gaza," said Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin.

Hamas said Israel's military plan to conquer Gaza City showed "discrete appeal" to efforts to mediate a ceasefire and a deal to release hostages in a conflict that has lasted nearly two years.

Secretary General Guterres also called for the unconditional release of the hostages who seized Hamas. In addition, he also urged Israel to reverse its decision to expand the construction of "illegal" settlements in the West Bank.

As of Wednesday, the death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached 62,122, the majority of women and children, while 156,759 others have been injured since the start of Israeli aggression in October 2023, according to medical sources, quoted from WAFA.

Meanwhile, hospitals in the Gaza Strip recorded three additional deaths from hunger and malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 269, including 112 children.