Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 9, 2025 Peace and security
The United Nations will provide comprehensive support in Gaza following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Secretary-General António Guterres announced this Thursday while speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in New York.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first stage of his peace plan A 20-point agreement was reached after several days of indirect talks in Egypt. According to Trump, Hamas agreed to release all hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops to an "agreed line" was also envisaged. Hamas's political leadership called on the international community to ensure the agreement's terms are implemented, including the release of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the event "a great day for Israel."
Ray of Hope
“I call on all parties to fully comply with the terms of the agreement – and to take full advantage of the opportunities that arise,” the UN Secretary-General emphasized.
"We and our partners are ready to act—right now," Guterres added. He said the UN "has the expertise, logistics networks, and established relationships with communities to get started."
Photo UN/M.Garten
However, Guterres noted that "real progress" requires more than just a cessation of hostilities: "We need full, safe, and sustainable access for humanitarian workers; the removal of bureaucratic barriers and obstacles; and the restoration of damaged infrastructure. And Member States must ensure adequate funding for humanitarian operations to meet the enormous needs."
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock called the announced ceasefire between Israel and Hamas "a ray of hope after more than 700 days of death, destruction, and despair." She emphasized the need for full implementation of the agreements, the release of all Israeli hostages, and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid. Baerbock thanked the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their mediation and noted that a permanent ceasefire could pave the way for a peace based on a two-state solution—one that ensures Israel's security and the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
Joy and hope in Gaza
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), residents of Gaza and Israel welcomed the news of the possible agreement with jubilation. The Office emphasizes the need to immediately deliver aid to the most vulnerable populations—and in the required quantities.
"We are, of course, very hopeful about everything this opportunity will provide us: the opportunity to implement our plan, which we have had for a long time," Olga Cherevko, an OCHA employee who is located in the enclave, told the UN News Service.
According to her, the UN Office is ready to deliver essential goods to Gaza and distribute them among the population, such as food, medicine, tents and "everything that people need."
"No amount of humanitarian aid can replace peace," Cherevko emphasized.
Around 170,000 tons of food, medicine, shelter, and other essential supplies have already been stockpiled in warehouses outside Gaza, ready for delivery immediately after the agreement comes into force.
Support from UN agencies
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the agreement, stressing that the priority remains "the release of hostages and an urgent scaling up of humanitarian assistance."
"Our teams are fully mobilized to quickly move convoys of trucks and save lives. They need safe access," he said.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also confirmed that WHO is “ready to scale up its activities in the sector to support rebuilding Gaza's shattered health system", noting that patient needs remain "extremely high."
World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain stressed that "unconditional humanitarian access is essential to deliver life-saving food and assistance."
For his part, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), called the agreement "a huge relief" for everyone affected by the war: "This will bring respite to people who have endured the worst of the war for two long years – bombing, displacement, loss, and suffering. After an unbearable ordeal, hostages and Palestinian prisoners will finally be reunited with their families."
A Call for Responsibility and Peace
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk also welcomed the announcement of the first phase of the ceasefire and stressed that all states must "work together to ensure that the ceasefire plan is implemented in good faith."
"All further actions must be aimed at immediately ending the killing, starvation and destruction, and ensuring the safe and dignified return of hostages and arbitrarily detained Palestinians," he said.
Türk stressed the need for unimpeded access to Gaza for humanitarian workers, international journalists and human rights defenders, as well as for a "comprehensive transitional justice process with accountability for grave violations of international law."
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.