United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a New York interview on December 3, 2025, that Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip was "fundamentally wrong."
"I think there was something fundamentally wrong in the way this operation was conducted with total neglect in relation to the deaths of civilians and to the destruction of Gaza," Guterres said. "The objective was to destroy Hamas. Gaza is destroyed, but Hamas is not yet destroyed. So there is something fundamentally wrong with the way this is conducted."
According to Gaza health authorities, more than 70,000 people have died since the conflict began in October 2023. That month, a Hamas attack on Israel killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken, sparking the two-year war.
Guterres warned there are "strong reasons to believe" that war crimes have been committed, underscoring growing calls for accountability after devastating civilian losses and widespread destruction.
As the conflict enters its third year, global leaders and rights groups are pressing for increased humanitarian aid and a path toward lasting peace.
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UN chief says Israel's conduct of war in Gaza 'fundamentally wrong'
cgtn.com
