The UN Secretary General expressed concern over the rapid deterioration of the situation in Gaza.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed alarm at the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and called for the immediate release of the hostages. This was announced by UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric during a briefing on July 21.

"The [UN] Secretary—General is shocked by the accelerating deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the last ties that support people's lives are crumbling," Dujarric said.

According to the spokesman, Guterres strongly condemns the ongoing violence, including the shelling of people trying to get food for their families at humanitarian aid points.

"Civilians must be protected. Civilians should be treated with respect," Dujarric stressed.

At the same time, the press secretary's statement notes that the humanitarian system is currently facing difficulties: the population of the enclave is experiencing an acute shortage of basic necessities.

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Earlier in the day, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that the number of Palestinians killed in the enclave since the outbreak of the conflict with Israel in October 2023 had exceeded 59,000.

In addition, they added that 134 people have been killed in Gaza over the past 24 hours, and another 1,155 have been taken to medical institutions with injuries of varying severity.

Prior to that, on July 15, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) press service reported that the Jewish state would expand its military operation in the Palestinian city of Gaza. The strikes will be aimed at "destroying terrorists and terrorist infrastructure facilities in the area."

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