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STORY: UN / GUTERRES GAZA
TRT: 2:56
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 08 APRIL 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters
08 APRIL 2025, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, Secretary-General António Guterres arriving at the podium
3. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“I want to say a special word about those humanitarian heroes in Gaza. They are under fire and yet doing all they can to follow the path they chose – to help people. UN agencies and our partners are ready and determined to deliver. But the Israeli authorities newly proposed “authorization mechanisms” for aid delivery risk further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour. Let me be clear: We will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality. Unimpeded humanitarian access must be guaranteed. And humanitarian personnel must be given the protection that they are accorded under international law. The inviolability of United Nations premises and assets must be respected. I call once again for an independent investigation into the killing of humanitarians – including UN personnel. We must stick to our core principles. Member States of the United Nations must adhere to their obligations under international law. And there must be justice and accountability when they do not.”
4. Wide shot, Guterres at the podium
5. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The world may be running out of words to describe the situation in Gaza, but we will never run away from the truth. The current path is a dead end – totally intolerable in the eyes of international law and history. And the risk of the occupied West Bank transforming into another Gaza makes it even worse. It is time to end the dehumanization, protect civilians, release the hostages, ensure lifesaving aid, and renew the ceasefire.”
6. Wide shot, Guterres at the podium
7. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Trade wars are extremely negative. Nobody wins with a trade war. Everybody tends to lose. And I'm particularly worried with the most vulnerable developing countries in which the impacts will be more devastating. I sincerely hope that we will have no recession, because a recession will have dramatic consequences, especially for the poorest people in the world.”
8. Wide shot, Guterres leaving the podium
Secretary-General António Guterres said, "the humanitarian heroes in Gaza are under fire and yet doing all they can to follow the path they chose – to help people," reiterating that UN agencies and partners are ready and determined to deliver.
The Secretary-General today (08 Apr) spoke to reporters as more than an entire month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaze.
Guterres highlighted that ceasefires work. It allowed for the release of hostages, ensured the distribution of lifesaving aid and proved that the humanitarian community can deliver.
Since the shattering of the ceasefire, hope sank for Palestinian families in Gaza and families of hostages in Israel – as he was reminded when he met again with hostage families yesterday, the UN chief told reporters.
He reiterated that he has consistently been pushing for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and full humanitarian access.
Moving onto the Israeli authorities’ newly proposed “authorization mechanisms” for aid delivery, it risks “further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour,” the UN chief said.
“Let me be clear: We will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality,” Guterres reiterated.
He stressed, “Unimpeded humanitarian access must be guaranteed. And humanitarian personnel must be given the protection that they are accorded under international law.”
The Secretary-General highlighted “the inviolability of United Nations premises and assets must be respected.”
He called once again for an independent investigation into the killing of humanitarians – including UN personnel.
“We must stick to our core principles. Member States of the United Nations must adhere to their obligations under international law. And there must be justice and accountability when they do not,” Guterres said.
The Secretary-General also said, “the world may be running out of words to describe the situation in Gaza, but we will never run away from the truth.”
He warned that the current path is a “dead end – totally intolerable in the eyes of international law and history,” adding that the risk of the occupied West Bank transforming into another Gaza makes it even worse.
“It is time to end the dehumanization, protect civilians, release the hostages, ensure lifesaving aid, and renew the ceasefire,” the UN chief concluded.
Asked about the tariffs, Guterres said, “Trade wars are extremely negative. Nobody wins with a trade war. Everybody tends to lose. And I'm particularly worried with the most vulnerable developing countries in which the impacts will be more devastating.”
He added, “I sincerely hope that we will have no recession, because a recession will have dramatic consequences, especially for the poorest people in the world.”
