UN Chief Criticizes Israel's Gaza Operations, Suggests Possible War Crimes

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has sharply criticized Israel's military operations in Gaza, describing them as "fundamentally wrong" and suggesting there are strong reasons to believe that Israeli forces may have committed war crimes. Guterres made these remarks during an interview at the Reuters NEXT conference in New York on December 3, 2025.

The conflict in Gaza escalated following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. In response, Israel launched a comprehensive military campaign in Gaza. As of December 2025, the Gaza Health Ministry reports over 70,000 Palestinian deaths, with approximately half being women and children.

During the interview, Guterres stated, "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." He further noted, "The objective was to destroy Hamas. Gaza is destroyed, but Hamas is not yet destroyed."

When questioned about potential war crimes, Guterres responded, "There are strong reasons to believe that that possibility might be a reality."

In response to Guterres's remarks, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon accused the Secretary-General of bias and criticized him for not visiting Israel during the conflict. Danon stated, "The only crime committed is the moral abomination that more than two years after the horrific massacres of October 7, the UN secretary-general has still not visited Israel."

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been exacerbated by the ongoing conflict. Reports indicate that over 16,500 Palestinians require medical evacuation, and access to essential services like food, water, and healthcare remains severely limited. The UN has repeatedly called for unimpeded humanitarian access to the region.

Guterres's assertion that there are "strong reasons to believe" Israeli forces may have committed war crimes carries significant legal and diplomatic weight. War crimes are serious violations of international humanitarian law, including acts such as targeting civilians, disproportionate attacks, and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Such allegations could lead to investigations by international bodies like the International Criminal Court (ICC). Israel is not a member of the ICC, but the court has previously asserted jurisdiction over alleged crimes in Palestinian territories.

This is not the first time the UN has criticized Israel's military actions in Gaza. Similar allegations of disproportionate use of force and potential war crimes were made during previous conflicts, notably in 2008-2009 and 2014. However, the scale of destruction and civilian casualties in the current conflict appears unprecedented, leading to heightened international scrutiny.

The Secretary-General's critique of Israel's operations in Gaza has brought renewed attention to the humanitarian crisis and the complexities of international law in conflict zones. As the situation evolves, the global community remains watchful of the actions and responses from both Israel and international organizations.