United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip following Israel’s announcement of the first steps of an operation to take control of Gaza City. Speaking in Japan, where he is attending the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Guterres warned that a full-scale military offensive would inevitably bring “death and destruction.”

The UN chief stressed the urgent need to halt hostilities to prevent further civilian casualties and worsening humanitarian conditions in the war-torn enclave. “It is vital to reach immediately a ceasefire in Gaza,” he said, underscoring the dangers of expanding military operations in densely populated areas.

Guterres also urged Israel to reconsider its decision to expand settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, calling such moves “illegal” under international law. He reiterated the UN’s position that settlement expansion undermines prospects for peace and threatens stability in the region.