United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres while speaking about the Israel and Hamas ceasefire deal outside the Security Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, U.S., on January 15, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday it was “imperative” the newly struck Gaza ceasefire removes obstacles to aid deliveries as he welcomed the deal that includes a prisoner and hostage exchange.

Mr. Guterres also called for the “integrity” of Palestinian territory to be respected and for a push to ensure “unified” Palestinian leadership capable of securing peace.

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“It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza so that we can support a major increase in urgent life-saving humanitarian support,” he said.

Mr. Guterres has led calls for a ceasefire in the deadly conflict and has advocated for an unhindered flow of aid to the war-torn territory, including that delivered by UN agencies.

“This deal is a critical first step, but we must mobilize all efforts to also advance broader goals, including the preservation of the unity, contiguity and integrity of the occupied Palestinian territory,” he said.

“Palestinian unity is essential for achieving lasting peace and stability, and I emphasize that unified Palestinian governance must remain a top priority.”

Mr. Guterres called on all sides in the conflict to seize the opportunity to secure “a better future for Palestinians, Israelis and the broader region, ending the occupation, and achieving a negotiated two-state solution.”

If the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal goes according to the current draft, then fighting will stop in Gaza for 42 days, and dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be freed. In this first phase Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza, and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes as stepped-up aid flows in.

The question is if the ceasefire will survive beyond that first phase.

That will depend on even more negotiations meant to begin within weeks. In those talks, Israel, Hamas, and the U.S, Egyptian and Qatari mediators will have to tackle the tough issue of how Gaza will be governed, with Israel demanding the elimination of Hamas.

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