UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his appreciation for the temporary truce deal recently brokered between Israel and Hamas.
However, he underscored that while this step is important, it falls short of what’s truly necessary. Guterres, through his spokesperson, emphasized his persistent advocacy for a humanitarian ceasefire in besieged Gaza.
“I welcome the agreement between Israel and Hamas as a significant stride forward, yet there remains much unfinished work,” stated the UN chief in a message relayed during the routine noon briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Guterres has been advocating for an indefinite ceasefire on humanitarian grounds for weeks, aligning with the stance of most of the international community.
However, this proposition has faced opposition from Israel and its ally, the United States, who argue that such a ceasefire could lead to Hamas rearming.
“The secretary-general continues to push for a ceasefire,” affirmed Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq in response to inquiries.
In his statement, Guterres pledged the UN’s commitment to mobilize its resources to aid in the implementation of the ceasefire and to maximize its positive impact on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
After enduring six weeks of relentless Israeli attacks, Gaza lies in ruins, with its 2.3 million inhabitants severely affected.
The temporary humanitarian truce, hailed by the international community, ranging from neighboring Arab nations to multinational organizations, is expected to take effect on Thursday.
In its initial phase, Hamas will release at least 50 hostages—nearly all of whom are women and children—out of the 240 captured on October 7. Simultaneously, Israel will free an initial group of 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The agreement encompasses a temporary ceasefire lasting at least four days, potentially extendable to a maximum of 10 days. During this period, hostilities will cease entirely, and between 100 to 300 trucks carrying food, medical aid, and fuel will enter the Strip.
Tor Wennesland, the top UN official leading peace efforts in the Middle East, echoed Guterres’s sentiments, welcoming the announced 96-hour “humanitarian pause” in war-ravaged Gaza. He stressed the importance of utilizing this pause fully to secure the release of hostages and address the pressing needs of Palestinians in Gaza.
As the UN remains prepared to escalate life-saving assistance in the enclave, UN humanitarians emphasized the urgent necessity for safe and unobstructed humanitarian access in Gaza.
The WHO issued renewed appeals for the cessation of fighting to enable a swift escalation of their response, highlighting the overwhelming need for aid in Gaza.
