Gaza crisis is a moral test of global conscience, UN Chief at Amnesty International Global Assembly

Addressing the Amnesty International Global Assembly, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for immediate action in Gaza. While reiterating his condemnation of the 7 October terror attacks by Hamas, he said that “nothing can justify the explosion of death and destruction since,” criticizing global indifference and inaction. Guterres today (25 Jul) addressed the Global Assembly via a video link to the event in Prague. He is the first United Nations Secretary-General to address the Assembly - the charity’s highest decision-making body. He commended the Amnesty International for being at the forefront of the global struggle for human rights – “fearless, principled and relentless.” Guterres described a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing starving aid workers and traumatized children. He said, “Our own heroic staff continue to serve in unimaginable conditions. Many are so numb and depleted that they say they feel neither dead nor alive. Children speak of wanting to go to heaven, because at least, they say, there is food there. We hold video calls with our own humanitarians who are starving before our eyes.” “This is not just a humanitarian crisis. It is a moral crisis that challenges the global conscience,” the UN chief stressed. Guterres once again called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostage, and urgent steps toward a two-State solution. He said, “The United Nations stands ready to make the most of a possible ceasefire to dramatically scale up humanitarian operations across the Gaza Strip, as we successfully did during the previous pause in fighting. Our plans are ready, and they are finalized. We know what works – and we know what does not.” The Secretary-General also commended Amnesty International’s “indispensable” role in a global battle for human dignity. For human rights. For justice. For the multilateral system itself. He said, “We need your movements – rooted in communities and rising from the ground up – making it clear that leaders cannot turn a blind eye to their obligations. And, yes, we need what you’ve called ‘troublemaking’. The kind that challenges complacency and inaction. That exposes injustice. That drives lasting change.” The UN chief spoke about this year’s focus of the Global Assembly: confronting the rise of authoritarian practices – and advancing climate justice. Guterres noted that the world is witnessing a surge in repressive tactics aiming at corroding respect for human rights. And these are contaminating some democracies. “We must right these wrongs,” the UN chief stressed. He said, “Many countries we must recognize stand firm with human rights. And we must push all countries to defend them – consistently, and universally, even – or especially – when inconvenient.” He continued, “We must urge them to protect and strengthen the international human rights system. We must demand accountability for human rights violations – without fear or favour. And insist that countries honour commitments in the Pact of the Future – to protect civic space, and uphold human rights and gender equality. We must also demand action to confront the flood of lies and hate polluting our digital spaces.” On climate justice, the UN chief called for “real finance” to support developing nations grappling with climate disasters. He urged nations to fulfill pledges and explore new sources of finance – “including putting an effective price on carbon, and establishing solidarity levies on polluting sectors and industries.” Founded in 1961, Amnesty International is a global human rights movement that campaigns to end abuses and promote justice. The organization has long worked in collaboration with the United Nations, participating actively in the development of international human rights law and mechanisms.


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UN Secretary-General Addresses Starvation Crisis in Gaza | United Nations

At Amnesty International's 2025 Global Assembly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access. At the same time, concrete and irreversible steps towards a two-State solution. Read the UN News story: In hard-hitting human rights address, Guterres calls for urgent action on Gaza, authoritarianism and climate justice -https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/07/1165497


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Accessibility for all – Japan’s sustainable development champion | United Nations

Yuriko Oda is the founder and CEO of WheeLog! – a user-generated accessibility map application that shows where wheelchair users can go. Yuriko was diagnosed with Distal Myopathy in 2002 and became a wheelchair user in 2006 after giving birth to her son. A wish to take her son to the beach led to her realizing how better information on accessibility could change the lives of wheelchair users. By 2017, she had launched an accessibility map app that now has more than 100,000 users globally. A champion for the Sustainable Development Goals, she received the Japan SDGs Award in December 2023 for her creative & inclusive work.


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The United Nations Marks International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent | United Nations

25 July marks the International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent. Patricia Da Silva, at UNFPA and Pamela Coke-Hamilton at International Trade Centre speak about the significance of Day and challenges faced by women and girls of African descent.


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Season 11| UN ‘Awake at Night’ podcast teaser

Our troubled world can be a source of great joy, and great suffering. United Nations staff witness both, day in day out, as they serve humanity in some of the toughest places on earth. They do so at considerable risk, and with shrinking resources. Yet despite all the challenges, dedicated UN staff around the world continue to find the strength to keep making a difference to millions of lives. Join UN chief communicator Melissa Fleming as she gets to know the extraordinary people dedicating their lives to service. Coming soon from the United Nations, Season 11 of Awake at Night. ----- About Awake at Night Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast 'Awake at Night' is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.


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Hulk Hogan has died at 71, TMZ reports

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How Jubilee helps Fascism

The Kavernacle: How Jubilee helps Fascism

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Nigeria: WFP to suspend aid for 1.3 million in August, amid severe funding crisis | United Nations

“Due to the severe funding cuts that World Food Program is facing, we have exhausted our food and nutrition resources,” said Margot van der Velden, WFP’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa. “At the beginning of August, we will have to face the heartbreaking reality of having to suspend our operations for the populations in northeast Nigeria.” Margot van der Velden briefed reporters today (Jul 23) on the humanitarian situation in Nigeria stating that WFP will suspend all emergency food and nutrition aid for over 1.3 million people in northeast Nigeria at the start of August, citing critical funding shortages and a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation. The looming cuts in Nigeria reflect a broader funding crisis across the region. “This crisis is not just in Nigeria,” van der Velden said. “Across West and Central Africa, WFP is facing critical funding shortfalls that are forcing us to reduce and suspend many operations in some of the most fragile contexts on the continent.” WFP assistance in the region has dropped by 60 percent compared to last year. In Mali and Niger, emergency support has been slashed by over 80 percent, van der Velden said. Overall, WFP is now only reaching five million people, a dramatic decrease given the scale of need. She also highlighted that nearly ten million people are displaced across West and Central Africa, including around two million in northeast Nigeria alone. Many are trapped in areas they cannot leave. Chad, meanwhile, has received 1.7 million refugees from Sudan, further stretching regional capacities. The situation is being exacerbated by a surge in violence. “We see an uptick of the attacks of the armed groups in the northeast of Nigeria,” van der Velden said. Inflation and climate-related shocks are compounding the crisis. “We’ve also, of course, been faced in Nigeria with this unfortunate high-level inflation of food prices,” she said. “There is a larger proportion of populations that have difficulties meeting their basic needs on the high costs of a minimum food basket. And that is also aggravating.” Last year’s devastating floods in northeast Nigeria destroyed harvests and continue to hinder planting efforts this season. Van der Velden said the current crisis is the result of multiple compounding factors: rising needs driven by conflict, inflation, and climate shocks – all coming to a head just as WFP faces a sharp drop in funding.


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Gaza: UN official calls for Aid access and revival of Two-State Solution - Briefing | United Nations

During today’s (23 July) Security Council meeting on Palestine, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon announced punitive measures against staff of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Khaled Khiari, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Gaza, saying that it is long past time for the fighting to end, for adequate humanitarian aid to enter the Strip, and for the recovery and reconstruction to begin in the context of a return to a political path towards a two-State solution. He said that today, the situation inside the Strip, especially for women and children, is more dire than at any other time during this crisis. Khiari also talked about the situation in the occupied West Bank, which he said remains deeply concerning, with high levels of violence driven by ongoing Israeli military operations, many involving civilian casualties and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, attacks by settlers against Palestinians, and attacks by Palestinians against Israelis. He added that the upcoming ministerial meeting to support a two-State solution, co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, is key to highlight international consensus around these goals, and reaffirm the principles of sustaining a two-State solution. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN said, “Israel has ravaged Gaza. It has destroyed nearly everything in that narrow strip of Palestinian land. But nearly 2 million human beings remain, including 1 million children. They must be saved.” Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, said, “Mr. Fletcher has not walked back the accusation that Israel is committing genocide. He knows it's not true. He knows it. There are facts, international law, you have to prove intention. Yet, he said it anyway. That word carries more weight than any other accusation. To use it falsely is to dishonor the memory of real genocide victims and to endanger more lives by fueling hatred. It is not too late to correct the record. Israel demands that Mr. Fletcher retract his statement publicly, unequivocally and immediately.” He then announced, “Today, I announce that Israel will take steps to ensure that what has been happening with OCHA will no longer continue. Hundreds of OCHA employees are undergoing security vetting. Key employees will not have their permits renewed following clear evidence of strong affiliation with Hamas. Some were even involved in the atrocities of October 7th. Israel will no longer grant automatic visas to OCHA’s international staff. Visas will now be limited to one month's terms. What was, will no longer be.” He also stated, “Jonathan Whittall, OCHA’s head of office for the so called ‘territories,’ has consistently and outrageously demonstrated his bias and agenda against the State of Israel. He will not have his visa renewed, and he will leave the country by July 29th.” He also said, “Israel is doing the job the UN was created to do. We are dismantling terror networks. We are protecting civilians. We are standing up for minorities under threat.” Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations called on Israel to end “these attacks, hold those responsible to account and to work with the UN to implement effective aid distribution in line with humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.” Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon addressed the press earlier this morning. Answering a question about allowing journalists to enter in Gaza, he said, “You know, when you bring journalists into war zone, you don't want to see any casualties -God forbid. That is the reasoning we don't want to see casualties of journalists traveling inside Gaza: it is a war zone. But I agree with you, you know, I think if the journalist would go there, they will be able to see what's happening.”


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Israel on Gaza - Security Council Media Stakeout | United Nations

Comments to the media by Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, on Gaza - Security Council Media Stakeout.


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Gaza : WHO operations compromised following attacks on warehouse, staff & families | United Nations

The World Health Organization (WHO) operations compromised following attacks on warehouse and facility sheltering staff and families in Deir al Balah, Gaza. The Organization will remain in Deir al Balah, deliver and expand its operations, a WHO senior official said. The World Health Organization (WHO) operations compromised following attacks on warehouse and facility sheltering staff and families in Deir al Balah, Gaza. WHO representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Rik Peeperkorn spoke to reporters today (22 Jul) via video link, stressing that the Organization will remain on the ground. “We stay in and deliver, and we will expand our operation,” he said. On Monday (21 Jul), following intensified hostilities in Deir Al Balah, after the latest evacuation orders issued by the Israeli military, the WHO staff residence, WHO residence for the national staff was attacked three times, the senior WHO official said. “Personnel and their families, including children, were exposed to grave danger and traumatized after airstrikes caused a fire and significant damage,” Peeperkorn said, adding that Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi amid active conflict. “Male staff and male family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint. Two WHO staff and two male family members were detained. Three were later released, while one staff member remains in detention.,” he added. Peeperkorn stressed that most of the WHO staff housing is now inaccessible in Deir Al Balah. “Last night due to this intensified hostilities, 43 staff and their families were already relocated from several staff residences to the WHO office in the darkness and in significant risk,” he explained. The WHO senior official also said that in another event, WHO’s main warehouse located in Deir al Balah is within the evacuation zone, and was damaged yesterday after an attack caused explosions and fire inside. “We see this as part of a pattern of systematic destruction of health facility. We also understand what was reported that it was later looted by desperate crowds,” he added. Peeperkorn highlighted that the geographical coordinates of all WHO premises, including offices, warehouses, and staff housing, are shared with the relevant parties. “With the main warehouse nonfunctional and the majority of medical supplies in Gaza depleted, WHO is severely constrained in adequately supporting hospitals, emergency medical teams and health partners, which are, as we know, already critically short on medicines, medical supplies, fuel and equipment,” the WHO official said. WHO urgently called Member States to “help to actually increase the support to WHO and to help ensure a sustained and regular flow of medical supplies into Gaza.” Peeperkorn concluded by calling for “the immediate release of the WHO staff member detained yesterday and the protection of all our staff and its premises. We reiterate our call for the active protection of civilians, health care and its premises, and for the rapid and unimpeded flow of aid.”


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