Israel-Hamas war: UN chief urges 'immediate' Gaza cease-fire

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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has underlined Israel's right to self-defense at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, adding that the fight against militant group Hamas should be "carried out in line with humanitarian law."

Hamas is considered a terrorist organization in Germany and by the European Union as a whole, as well as by Israel and the United States.

Baerbock stressed that, given Germany's responsibility for the Holocaust, Israel's security and right to defend itself were "non-negotiable."

However, she added, addressing the plight of the Palestinians "in no way contradicts this clear and unwavering stance."  

"The fight is against Hamas and not against civilians," she said. "That's why it is crucial for us that this fight must be carried out in line with humanitarian law, with the greatest possible consideration for civilians in Gaza."

Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to resign, accusing him of "expressing an understanding" for the "terrorism and murder" of Hamas' October 7 attacks.

In comments to the United Nations Security Council earlier on Tuesday, Guterres said "it is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum" and decried "clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza."

Erdan took to the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, and said Guterres' comments meant he was "not fit to lead the UN."

Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, attacking mainly civilian targets including families and a music festival. They killed at least 1,400 people and took more than 220 people hostages, according to Israeli figures.

More than 5,700 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have also been killed across the Gaza Strip in retaliatory Israeli bombardments, according to estimates provided by the Hamas-run health ministry.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the West Bank on Tuesday, where he met with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas amid the Israel-Hamas war. 

During the talks, Macron said "Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people." 

Abbas has led the PA for 18 years. The PA has control over certain parts of the West Bank, whereas Hamas rules over the Gaza Strip. 

"We urge you, President Macron, to stop this aggression," Abbas said to Macron in Ramallah, referring to Israeli military actions toward Gaza.  

Abbas called for an "international peace conference" on Gaza while condemning Israeli airstrikes which "kill innocent civilians in a barbaric way." 

Macron, meanwhile, said Hamas' October 7 terror attacks on Israel are "also a catastrophe for the Palestinians."  

At the same time, Macron said "there will not be any sustainable peace if there is no recognition of the legitimate right of the Palestinian people to have territory and a state." 

"There will be no sustainable peace if there is no clear recognition by the Palestinian people and their authorities of an Israeli state and the importance of its existence and its security," Macron added.   

The United Nations says 20 trucks due to deliver aid to the besieged Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing from Egypt did not enter the enclave as planned on Tuesday.

"We hope the materials can enter Gaza tomorrow," UN aid spokesperson Eri Kaneko said.

Since Saturday, 54 trucks have crossed into Gaza carrying food, medicine and water, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing the amount of aid delivered so far as "a drop of aid in an ocean of need."

The UN agency that looks after Palestinian refugees has warned it will be forced to stop working across the Gaza Strip imminently unless there are urgent fuel deliveries to the war-torn territory.

"If we do not get fuel urgently, we will be forced to halt our operations in the Gaza Strip as of tomorrow night," UNRWA said on X, formerly Twitter, referring to Wednesday night.

Aid groups in Gaza have sounded the alarm about the lack of fuel for vital services such as hospitals that rely on generators.

"If we do not get fuel that will allow us to continue delivering humanitarian assistance, we will not be able to continue to assist people in need beyond Wednesday night, that is tomorrow," the UNRWA director of communications Juliette Touma told the DPA news agency.

Touma said there needed to be an "urgent delivery" of fuel and stressed that 600,000 internally displaced people in more than 150 shelters depend on assistance from UNRWA.

In his address to the UN Security Council, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken questioned why there was not more outrage regarding the deaths of Israelis, following the Hamas terror attacks on October 7 which killed more than 1,400 people. The US, along with the EU, Israel and others, considers Hamas a terrorist organization.

"Where's the outrage? Where's the revulsion? Where's the rejection? Where's the explicit condemnation of these horrors?" Blinken said, while noting graphic accounts of Hamas killing civilians.

"We must affirm the right of any nation to defend itself and to prevent such harm from repeating itself. No member of this Council, no nation in this entire body, could or would tolerate the slaughter of its people," he added. 

Blinken has also warned Iran during his remarks, after US forces were attacked by drones in Iraq. The attacks were launched by Iran-backed militias. 

The US is concerned that Iran will ramp up its efforts to assist these attacks, as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues. 

"The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen. But if Iran or its proxies attack US personnel anywhere, make no mistake. We will defend our people, we will defend our security — swiftly and decisively," Blinken said.    

Israel sharply responded to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' remarks to the Security Council on Tuesday.  

"Protecting civilians does not mean ordering more than 1 million to evacuate to the south, where there is no shelter, no food, no water, no medicine and no fuel, and then continue to bomb the south itself," Guterres said, referring to Israeli evacuation orders in northern Gaza.

Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen shot back at Guterres' address: "Mr. Secretary-General, in what world do you live?"  

"Definitely this is not our world," he added. 

Cohen gave details about Hamas' terror attacks on Israel on October 7, which killed more than 1,400 people. More than 200 people are still held hostage in Gaza by Hamas, with Cohen showing a collage of those kidnapped by the group. 

"We Israel, we don't only have the right to defend ourselves, we have the duty to do so," Cohen said. 

Earlier in the Security Council session, the Palestinian Authority's foreign minister also levied criticism on Israel.

"It is our collective human duty to stop them," Riyad al-Maliki said, referring to Israeli's military actions and "illegal occupation." "Continued failure at this council is inexcusable." 

In comments ahead of a speech to the United Nations Security Council, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called for a humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and the Islamist militant group Hamas, to allow aid into the Gaza Strip.

The minister affirmed Israel's right to self-defense in the face of the Hamas terror attacks, but she said it was also necessary to keep the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza in mind. 

"We see their suffering. It is unbearable. Every civilian life is worth the same. An Israeli one and a Palestinian one. Humanity is universal."

Baerbock said the delivery of a few dozen trucks so far was not enough, and that drinking water supplies for more than 2 million people in the Gaza Strip needed to be ensured. She said fuel, which the UN has not been allowed to send into Gaza, would also be needed.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in remarks to the UN Security Council, said Tuesday he was "deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza."

"Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law," Guterres added. 

Guterres also urged more humanitarian aid into Gaza. The UN has said 54 aid trucks have entered Gaza via the Rafah Crossing from Egypt since Saturday. 

He described currently humanitarian shipments into Gaza as "a drop of aid in an ocean of need." He also noted that UN fuel supplies will run out in days, triggering "another disaster."

"To ease epic suffering, make the delivery of aid easier and safer and facilitate the release of hostages, I reiterate my appeal for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire," Guterres said. 

The US, along with Israel, have previously rebuked pleas for a cease-fire. Israel has wanted to press forward with its military operations against Hamas, after Hamas carried out a terror attack on Israel on October 7. 

Israel on Tuesday dropped leaflets across the Gaza Strip, asking Gazans to give information about hostages in exchange for a reward.

"If your will is to live in peace and have a better future for your children, do your humanitarian deed immediately and share verified and valuable information about hostages being held in your area," the leaflets said in Arabic.

"The Israeli military assures you that it will invest maximum effort in providing security for you and your home, and you will receive a financial reward. We guarantee you complete confidentiality," the papers added, while providing phone numbers for Gazans to tip-off information.       

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the dropping of the leaflets on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Earlier leaflets dropped by Israel have asked for Gazans to move the southern part of the Gaza Strip amid Israeli military operations against Hamas.  

The UN on Tuesday issued fresh warnings regarding Gaza's humanitarian crisis, as Israel restricts food, electricity and fuel into the Gaza Strip. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) said 46 out of 72 health care facilities have gone out of operation across Gaza. The facilities are not only impacted by a lack of electricity and fuel, but also Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

Gaza has a population of some 2.2 million people.

WHO regional director Rick Brennan also detailed the precarious water shortage Gaza is facing. 

Brennan said there are only three liters of water per person per day.

He said many Gazans are no longer getting a proper shower or bath and warned of the spread of disease. 

The UN said 54 trucks with aid have entered Gaza since Saturday, but said it is not enough.

Israel has ramped up military operations against Hamas since October 7, when Hamas carried out terror attacks on Israel. Those attacks left more than 1,400 people dead in Israel, with Hamas also taking more than 200 people hostage.

Hamas, which rules over the Gaza Strip, is considered a terrorist organization not only by Israel, but also the US, Germany, EU and others.  

France and Israel share terrorism as their "common enemy," French President Emmanuel Macron said at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"You are not alone," said Macron after a meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Macron called for countries that fought against the so-called Islamic State terror group to fight Hamas terrorists, saying he proposes the "coalition against 'Islamic State' also fight Hamas."

Hamas is considered a terrorist group by the EU, US, Israel and others.

Netanyahu stressed that the Israeli military would destroy Hamas and that Israelis would not live "under Hamas tyranny."

Macron in his statement to the press also emphasized there ought to be a "decisive relaunch" of the Palestinian peace process.

"Stability of the Middle East will only be possible if Israel also allows for a political approach to the conflict with Palestinians."

He warned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and its main backer, Iran, not to take the "risk of regional escalation."

On October 7, Kibbutz Be'eri was one of the first Israeli communities Hamas terrorists attacked.

Over two weeks later, dozens of residents are still unaccounted for, and authorities have not yet identified all the bodies.

Emergency defenders recount the story of how Hamas terrorists went door to door to kill people.

DW's Max Zander visited the kibbutz as part of an organized press tour.

Freed hostage Yocheved Lifschitz spoke to reporters about her abduction by the Hamas militant group.

Lifschitz's daughter helped recount her ordeal to reporters. The 85-year-old was released late last night by the Hamas terrorist group after being held captive for more than two weeks.

The "story is not over until everybody comes back," she said, calling for all hostages to be released.

Lifschitz's husband is among the Hamas hostages. Israeli authorities said 220 captives are still being held in Gaza.

She said Hamas brought her into Gaza on a motorbike, with the ride leading to bruises. She was hit with sticks. She said she went through hell and that she struggled to breathe.

But she added that the militants did not hurt her while being held captive. Everyone shared the same food, and she had a doctor visit her in captivity.

The militants had prepared this for a long time, she said, adding that hygiene was taken care of.

Lifschitz criticized the Israeli military for not taking security concerns seriously enough before Hamas militants rampaged through Israeli towns on October 7, killing 1,400 people.