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UN Secretary General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres on Monday called for an independent investigation into alleged Israeli strikes near aid distribution centres in Gaza, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Israeli government.<\/p>\n
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein called Guterres’ statement a “disgrace” and criticized the UN chief for failing to mention Palestinian Islamist group Hamas or its rejection of ceasefire and hostage release proposals.<\/p>\n
“Not a word about the fact that Hamas is the one shooting civilians and trying to prevent them from collecting aid packages,” Marmorstein wrote in a post on X.<\/p>\n
Guterres had earlier demanded an inquiry into reports, based on Hamas claims, that Israeli strikes killed civilians seeking aid. The Hamas-run media office on Sunday said 30 people were killed in such incidents.<\/p>\n
“It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food,” Guterres wrote on X, adding that Israel is obligated under international humanitarian law to facilitate aid deliveries.<\/p>\n
The Israeli military rejected the allegations, saying a preliminary review found no evidence of fire on civilians near or inside aid facilities. The claims could not be independently verified.<\/p>\n
Israel has recently allowed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) to distribute aid in the Gaza Strip, bypassing UN agencies while resuming limited aid deliveries after a nearly three-month blockade.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n