UN Secretary-General António Guterres has reiterated his call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the immediate release of all hostages.
Speaking at a session of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Guterres warned that the rights of Palestinians continue to be eroded amid escalating violence and humanitarian devastation.
He condemned the ongoing destruction, citing nearly 50,000 reported deaths, mostly women and children, alongside widespread displacement, hunger, and disease. Schools in Gaza have remained closed for over a year, leaving an entire generation homeless and traumatized.
The UN chief acknowledged the ceasefire deal reached in January between Israel and Hamas but stressed the need for a lasting peace. He commended Egypt, Qatar, and the United States for their mediation efforts and urged global leaders to sustain diplomatic pressure to prevent further bloodshed.
“The world cannot return to more death and destruction,” Guterres stated. “A permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages must happen without delay.”
He also called for increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, urging member states to fully fund relief operations and support the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Emphasizing the need for a two-state solution, Guterres insisted that “a viable, sovereign Palestinian state living side-by-side in peace with Israel is the only sustainable path to stability in the Middle East.”
The session also saw newly elected committee chair Ambassador Coly Seck of Senegal warning against attempts to undermine the ceasefire, while Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour urged immediate steps toward Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of displaced residents.
