7th February 2025
UN Chief Guterres Calls for Full Gaza Ceasefire, Hostage Release, and Two-State Solution
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the international community to push for a full 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, he warned against further escalation and emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian aid access.
Guterres condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks while also decrying the large-scale destruction in Gaza, where nearly 50,000 people—mostly women and children—have reportedly been killed. He described the situation as a “catalogue of destruction and unspeakable horrors,” with civilians facing displacement, hunger, and disease.
Welcoming the recent ceasefire and hostage release deal mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S., Guterres stressed the importance of making the truce permanent. He called for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, urging countries to support UNRWA, the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees.
The secretary-general reaffirmed the need for a two-state solution, emphasizing that lasting peace requires an end to Israel’s occupation and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state with Gaza as an integral part. He also condemned rising settler violence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, stating that “the violence must stop.”
The UN continues efforts to secure humanitarian aid, rebuild Gaza, and strengthen Palestinian governance. Guterres called on the international community to uphold international law and resist any actions leading to forced displacement or ethnic cleansing.
