UN chief Guterres calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza
In short
UN Secretary-General Guterres called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in a statement on 5 October, the third anniversary of the latest round of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. He said last year's ceasefire agreement had eased the situation slightly but had not delivered security, adequate humanitarian aid or a reliable path to reconstruction and peace. He urged all parties to implement their ceasefire commitments and move to the next stage.
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UN Secretary-General Guterres called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in a statement on 5 October, the third anniversary of the outbreak of the latest round of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, according to reports by Yicai and Jiemian that cited CCTV News. Xinhua carried the call as a headline item. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
In the statement, Guterres said that on 7 October 2023 Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups attacked Israel and Israel immediately launched the Gaza war, bringing what he described as indescribable suffering to Palestinians in Gaza, the two business outlets reported. [ 2 , 3 ]
Guterres said last year's Gaza ceasefire agreement eased the situation somewhat, but still did not bring security, sufficient humanitarian aid, or a reliable path towards reconstruction and peace, according to the reports. [ 2 , 3 ]
He urged all parties to carry out their ceasefire commitments and to advance towards the next stage of a ceasefire, and said a political path for lasting peace across the whole region must be established. [ 2 , 3 ]
The reports did not say where or at what hour the statement was delivered, describe the current state of the ceasefire, or give any response from the parties involved. Yicai and Jiemian carried the same account attributed to CCTV News, while Xinhua's item gave no further detail. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The appeal comes three years into a war the UN chief describes as having brought indescribable suffering to Palestinians in Gaza, and it puts the next stage of the ceasefire on the agenda of the parties involved. The reports do not say how any party responded, so the practical effect of the call is not yet known.
Key facts
- UN Secretary-General Guterres called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The statement was made on 5 October, the third anniversary of the outbreak of the latest round of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Guterres said Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups attacked Israel on 7 October 2023 and Israel then launched the Gaza war, bringing indescribable suffering to Palestinians in Gaza. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He said last year's Gaza ceasefire agreement eased the situation slightly but did not bring security, adequate humanitarian aid, or a reliable path to reconstruction and peace. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He urged all parties to implement their ceasefire commitments and move to the next stage of a ceasefire. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He said a political path to lasting peace across the whole region must be established. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Guterres called for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on the third anniversary of the latest round of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Guterres said the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups were followed by Israel's Gaza war and caused indescribable suffering for Palestinians in Gaza. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Guterres said last year's ceasefire agreement eased the situation slightly but did not bring security, adequate humanitarian aid or a reliable path to reconstruction and peace. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Guterres urged all parties to implement their ceasefire commitments and advance to the next stage. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Guterres said a political path must be built for lasting peace in the region as a whole. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Where and at what time on 5 October Guterres delivered the statement. The documents give only the date and place no venue or hour for the statement.
- The current status of the ceasefire in Gaza and whether it is being observed. No document describes the state of the truce or any party's response to the appeal.
- The terms and timing of last year's ceasefire agreement. The reports cite it only in passing and give no date or details.
- Whether the statement produced any change on the ground. All three documents report only the content of the appeal.