UN rejoices over Gaza ceasefire, says it is “ready to roll and deliver” full humanitarian access

United Nations

Sphinx News: Ahmed Ali

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Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza, brokered under a proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald J. Trump and supported by Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye.

Calling it a “desperately needed breakthrough,” the Secretary-General urged all parties to fully abide by the terms of the agreement and to “seize this momentous opportunity” to turn a fragile truce into a credible path toward peace.

“All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The bloodshed must stop once and for all,” Guterres said, pledging the United Nations’ full support in scaling up food, water, medical, and shelter assistance. He stressed that humanitarian operations would require “full, safe and sustained access,” the removal of bureaucratic impediments, and urgent donor funding.

“For Israelis and Palestinians alike, this deal offers a glimmer of relief. That glimmer must become the dawn of peace; the beginning of the end of this devastating war,” Guterres added, framing the agreement as an opening toward a two-state solution and “wider peace and security in the Middle East.”

Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, outlined an ambitious humanitarian response plan to accompany the ceasefire.

“We will distribute food rations, support bakeries and community kitchens, help herders and fishers restore their livelihoods, and provide cash assistance to 200,000 families to cover basic needs,” Fletcher said. He added that UN agencies are preparing to scale up emergency health care, maternal and child health services, mental health and rehabilitation support, as well as temporary learning spaces for 700,000 school-aged children.

However, Fletcher stressed that aid delivery hinges on urgent logistical and political guarantees. “We need sustained entry of at least 1.9 million liters of fuel every week, relief supplies moving through multiple crossings, additional scanners for cargo, and security guarantees at all entry points,” he said. “Protection for civilians, particularly women and girls, and support for survivors of sexual violence must remain at the core of our efforts.”

Despite progress, only 28 percent of the $4 billion requested in the 2025 flash appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territory has been funded. “Now is the time for generosity to count,” Fletcher urged. “We need rapid injections of aid to get the pipeline open, the assistance flowing, and to meet the overwhelming needs on the ground.”

He noted a decline in looting in recent days as more supplies begin to enter Gaza, but emphasized the need for international action to restore infrastructure, facilitate NGO access, and protect humanitarian workers.

Both leaders underscored the heavy human toll of the conflict, including the deaths of UN staff and humanitarian personnel. Guterres mourned those lost and paid tribute to colleagues continuing their work under extreme risk.

“This breakthrough shows us the power and potential of diplomacy,” the Secretary-General said. “The solutions to conflicts are not found on the battlefield. They must be forged at the negotiating table, and then fully implemented. The world is watching.”