NEW YORK, July 25 (WAFA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday warned that the crisis in the Gaza Strip has escalated beyond humanitarian dimensions, calling it "a moral crisis that challenges the global conscience."

"Powerful forces are ranged against human rights—and against the international system built to protect and uphold them," Guterres said in a virtual address to Amnesty International's Global Assembly, as reported by Anadolu Ajansı.

He denounced ongoing violations of international law, including "the relentless Israeli onslaught on Gaza," and stressed that "nothing can justify the explosion of death and destruction" since Oct. 7.

"The scale and scope are beyond anything we have seen in recent times," he said, adding: "I cannot explain the level of indifference and inaction we see by too many in the international community. The lack of compassion. The lack of truth. The lack of humanity."

Guterres also described the suffering of UN staff on the ground, saying: "Many are so numb and depleted that they say they feel neither dead nor alive," while children "speak of wanting to go to heaven because, at least, they say, there is food there."

"This is not just a humanitarian crisis. It is a moral crisis that challenges the global conscience," he said.

He urged an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access.

"Since May 27, the United Nations has recorded over 1,000 Palestinians killed trying to access food," he said.

T.R.