Speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Mr Guterres welcomed the agreement, based on a proposal from US President Donald Trump, and said it must be “fully implemented”.
“We’ve all waited for this moment far too long. Now we have to make it really count,”“, he declared. “All hostages must be released with dignity. A permanent ceasefire must be ensured. The bloodshed must stop once and for all.
According to media reports, the Israeli cabinet is expected to approve the internationally negotiated agreement on Thursday. A ceasefire is expected to begin in Gaza within 24 hours of this approval. The agreement would also include a 72-hour window during which Hamas must release the remaining hostages, both living and deceased.
The people of Gaza welcomed the ceasefire agreement.
“Complete, safe and sustainable access”
Guterres said the UN and its partners were ready to “act now”, with teams and supplies already in place to increase food, water, medical and shelter assistance inside Gaza.
“To turn this ceasefire into real progress, we need more than silencing the guns,» he added, emphasizing the need to “full, safe and sustainable access for humanitarian workers» and sufficient funding for recovery efforts.
The UN chief urged all parties to seize the opportunity for a “credible political path” towards ending the occupation and achieving a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
UN human rights chief calls for accountability
UN 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.
“Any future action must be guided by the immediate objectives of ending the massacres, famine and destruction,» he said from Geneva.
Mr. Türk also called for a “comprehensive transitional justice process” to ensure that those responsible for gross human rights violations are held accountable, 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 crumbling health system.
“The best medicine is peace,” he declared, calling for respect for the agreement “thus the suffering of all civilians finally comes to an end.»
World Food Program (PAM) Executive Director Cindy McCain said her agency was “on the ground, ready to ramp up operations, but we must act now – there is no time to lose.»
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the United Nations agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) called the deal a “great relief,” noting that enough food is ready to be trucked to Gaza to feed the entire population for three months.
“There are more than 660,000 children eagerly waiting to return to school,“, he stressed. “UNRWA teachers are ready to help them rebuild their lives.”
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
