UN's Guterres calls for end to violence in Mideast

WASHINGTON: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Tuesday he ​was 'deeply alarmed' by ​a renewed escalation of violence in the Middle East and called on Israel to reopen crossings into Gaza. 'All attacks must stop immediately. The ceasefires in Lebanon, Iran & Gaza must be fully respected,' he said in a ⁠post on X. Israel struck targets in Iran on Monday for ⁠the first time since a ceasefire in April, after Iran fired missiles at Israel in what Tehran said was retaliation for Israeli strikes ‌on Lebanon's capital.
Israel and Iran both ​called a halt ⁠to the exchange on Monday shortly after Trump ​told them to stop shooting, although they each left the door open to a possible resumption. The most direct ​confrontation between the two countries since April threatened to wreck Washington's efforts to reach an agreement with Tehran to end their more than 3-month-old war.
Guterres also said Israel should open crossings it has closed into Gaza to allow for the flow of humanitarian ​aid. 'I'm also deeply concerned by Israel's decision to close crossings into ​Gaza & reiterate ⁠my call for the immediate reopening of all crossings to ensure the rapid, safe & unhindered passage of humanitarian assistance at ​scale throughout Gaza,' he said.
A US-brokered ceasefire between ⁠Israel and ​Hamas in place since October 2025 that includes guarantees of increased aid. Israel and Hamas have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce. Israeli strikes have killed more than ​950 people since the truce, health officials say, while ​Israel says four soldiers were killed by militants during the same period. — Reuters