NEW YORK: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday expressed deep sadness at his inability to end the war in Gaza, “or at least to create the conditions for people to respect international law and international humanitarian law.”

He told Arab News: “My worst frustration is to see suffering at such a large scale and to know that I haven’t the power to stop it. But it’s a reality: I haven’t the power to stop it.”

He added: “I can raise my voice, and I do it. I can sometimes convene, but people need to be willing to be convened.

“But the biggest frustration I have is not to have the power to end this conflict, or at least to create the conditions for people to respect international law and international humanitarian law.”

Speaking at his annual press conference to highlight his agenda priorities for this year, Guterres warned that a “gigantic tragedy” could happen in Rafah if Israel follows through on its intent to expand its offensive into the southern town where over 1 million Palestinians are sheltering.

“Half of Gaza’s population is now crammed into Rafah. They have nowhere to go. They have no homes, and they have no hope,” he said, again calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and the need for “real, visible, concrete steps” towards a two-state solution.

He voiced his disagreement “with the policies of the government of Israel, with the settlements, and with a number of other initiatives that have undermined the two-state solution.

“And I’ve also expressed my opinion that the way the military operations have been conducted in Gaza has been with the absolutely unacceptable excess of people being killed, and the destruction.”

He added: “I’ll always be a strong supporter of the right of Israel to live in peace and security. I’ve always been a committed fighter against antisemitism.

“But I’m also totally committed to work for the Palestinians to be able to have their own state and to have their self-determination recognized, and to the end of occupation.”

Guterres sent a message to the people of Gaza of “total solidarity with the horrible suffering,” and “total commitment to do everything to mobilize the UN system to provide the possible assistance we can provide, and at the same time to go on with a very active global advocacy for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to take place.”

The press conference came at a time when Qatar has been working with the US and Egypt to broker a ceasefire that would involve a halt in fighting for several weeks, and the release of the more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas after its Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.

Guterres said it is in the interest of everybody, “and in the particular interest of the government of Israel,” to make sure that these negotiations are successful, reiterating that “the quest of liberation of hostages is absolutely essential from a human point of view. I know the suffering that’s related to that.”

As he has done repeatedly in the past five months, Guterres again condemned the “horrible terror attacks” of Oct. 7 by Hamas, but he also described Israel’s response as amounting to collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza.

“Israeli leaders have been telling repeatedly they aren’t fighting the Palestinian people, they’re fighting Hamas.

“If that’s the case, I can’t understand how this is conducted in such a way that has led in Gaza to reportedly around 28,000 people killed, 75 percent of the population displaced, and the destruction of entire neighborhoods … I think there’s something wrong in the way the military operations have been conducted.”

Asked whether Hamas, in allegedly using civilians as human shields, bears responsibility for the high death toll, Guterres said: “I’ve condemned the use of human shields. I even said they’re a violation of international humanitarian law.

“But the same international humanitarian law is clear that even when there are human shields, there’s an obligation to protect civilians.

“So in that regard, I think we’re abiding by principles without double standards. And I think it’s very important to be credible, not to have double standards.”

On Jan. 26, in a case brought by South Africa, the International Court of Justice issued what it called emergency measures.

Although the ICJ did not uphold South Africa’s request to order Israel to immediately halt its operations in Gaza, it did instruct Israel to prevent its military from committing acts that might be considered genocidal, to prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and to enable humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. The court also ruled that it had the legal right to proceed with the genocide case.

Guterres expressed his “full support” for the ICJ, and said it is the right entity to pronounce itself on these issues.

“We fully support the decisions of the International Court of Justice, and (it) is absolutely essential that all the (court’s) decisions are implemented,” he added.

Guterres said while it is true that the US is an ally to Israel, “and that has been said time and time again by all leaders in the US and Israel,” it is also true, “and can testify it myself, that there has been a lot of pressure by the United States in relation to Israel in different areas of humanitarian aid.

“I remember several phone calls (from) President (Joe) Biden to Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu to solve problems that we have on the ground and couldn’t solve by ourselves.

“And I can also testify that there has been a clear pressure from the United States in order for full respect of international humanitarian law.”

On whether Washington is using its leverage strongly enough to get Israel to comply with international demands, Guterres said: “I sincerely don’t know what’s exactly in their power.”