UN Secretary praises Israeli residents near Gaza for humanity

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after visiting southern Israel Wednesday: “I had the enormous pleasure when talking to the families of the Kibbutzim to note that instead of what would be natural—a feeling of anger in relation to what is an attack on civilians and a violation of international humanitarian law—I’ve seen from them an extraordinary message of peace, tolerance and reconciliation.” Guterres noted, “They asked us to help the Palestinians in Gaza to overcome their tragic humanitarian problems and emancipate themselves from the draconian rule of Hamas and were themselves ready to help and to provide support to the Palestinian community in Gaza.”
He spoke in Tel Aviv after a visit that included a Hamas terror tunnel and a helicopter tour of the Israeli-Gaza border region accompanied by Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, and Aviv Kochavi, Israel's deputy military chief. 

In Gaza, the UN Secretary called for unity among the Palestinians' warring factions—Hamas, which rules Gaza, and Fatah, which rules parts of the West Bank. He also called for an end to closures in the face of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.