“We have all waited too long for this moment. Now we must make it really count,” he said. “All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. It is necessary to guarantee a permanent ceasefire. “The bloodshed must stop once and for all.”
According to media reports, the Israeli cabinet is due to endorse the internationally negotiated deal on Thursday. A ceasefire in Gaza is expected to begin within 24 hours of that approval. The agreement also reportedly includes a 72-hour period during which Hamas must release the remaining hostages, living and deceased.
‘Full, secure and sustained access’
Guterres said the UN and its partners were ready to “act now”, with equipment and supplies already in place to increase food assistance, water, healthcare and shelter inside Gaza.
“To turn this ceasefire into real progress, we need more than just silencing the guns,” he added, highlighting the need to “full, safe and sustained access for humanitarian workers”and sufficient funding for recovery efforts.
The UN chief urged all parties to seize the opportunity to pursue a “credible political path” to end the occupation and achieve a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
UN human rights chief urges accountability
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called the announcement “extremely significant” and urged all States to ensure that the ceasefire is implemented in good faith.
“All future measures must be guided by the immediate objectives of ending the killing, hunger and destruction,”he said from Geneva.
Türk also called for a “comprehensive transitional justice process” to ensure accountability for serious human rights violations, warning that peace would remain fragile without it.
‘The best medicine is peace’
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was ready to support Gaza’s shattered health system.
“The best medicine is peace,he said, urging respect for the agreement “so that the suffering of all civilians finally ends.”
World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain said her agency was “on the ground ready to expand operations, but we have to act now.” there is no time to waste.”
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), called the agreement “a great relief,” noting that there is enough food ready to be trucked to Gaza to feed the entire population for three months.
“There are more than 660,000 children anxiously waiting to return to school,“he stressed. “UNRWA teachers are ready to help them rebuild their lives.”