United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has marked the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel with a video message arguing that the time for peace, international law and justice has come.
The attack resulted in Israel pursuing Hamas in Gaza which has seen the area largely destroyed with a huge death toll that has included tens of thousands of civilians. Close to two thousand people died in Israel during the Hamas attack one year ago. Guterres expressed his solidarity with all the victims and their loved ones, pointing to a wave of violence and bloodshed that erupted after 7 October 2023.
He said the war that followed the terrible attacks in Israel continued to shatter lives and inflict profound human suffering for Palestinians in Gaza and now the people of Lebanon.
The UN Chief again called for the release of all Israeli hostages and that it was also time to silence the guns, stop the suffering that had engulfed the region. Guterres added that the UN was fully committed to achieving the goals of peace, justice and international law. He said that in the midst of so much bloodshed and division, the world must hold on to hope.
Source: eNCA
In other news – Coco Gauff beats Muchova in straight sets to win China Open
Coco Gauff overpowered Karolina Muchova in straight sets to win the China Open on Sunday for her second title of the year and eighth overall. The 20-year-old American and last year’s US Open champion stormed to victory 6-1, 6-3 in one hour, 16 minutes in Beijing.
After a disappointing few months by her standards, including surrendering her New York crown in the last 16, Gauff adds the China Open to her triumph in Auckland in January. The sixth-ranked Gauff, under a new coaching team in the Chinese capital after splitting with Brad Gilbert last month, wiped away tears at the end. Read more