UNITED NATIONS : UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday welcomed the initial ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestinian factions, describing it as a “desperately needed breakthrough,” and urged all sides to honor the deal and work toward a permanent truce.

“I urge all parties to fully abide by the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released in a dignified manner, and a permanent ceasefire must be secured. The bloodshed must stop once and for all,” Guterres said in remarks at the UN headquarters in New York.

He commended the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt in mediating the truce and said the United Nations stood ready to scale up humanitarian operations. “We have the expertise, the networks, and supplies in place. But to turn this ceasefire into real progress, we need more than the silencing of guns,” he said.

Guterres called for the removal of bureaucratic impediments to humanitarian access and for the protection of aid workers. “We must never forget the unbearable human cost of this conflict,” he said, paying tribute to UN personnel and other humanitarian workers who have been killed.

He reiterated the need for a political solution, calling for an end to the occupation and recognition of the Palestinian right to self-determination. “We need a path toward a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and to broader stability in the Middle East,” he said.

“This breakthrough shows the power of diplomacy,” Guterres added. “The solutions to conflicts are not found on the battlefield.”

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