Guterres Applauds Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal as a 'Vital Initial Step'
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Synopsis
On January 16, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the recent ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Gaza as a vital initial step towards regional peace, commending the roles of Qatar, Egypt, and the US in facilitating the deal.
Key Takeaways
- Guterres welcomes ceasefire agreement
- Initial phase to see Israeli withdrawal
- Hostage release plan over 42 days
- Ongoing negotiations for remaining hostages
- Call for urgent humanitarian support
United Nations, Jan 16 (NationPress) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his support for the agreement regarding a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, labeling it as a “critical first step” toward achieving peace in the region.
“I welcome the announcement of the deal for ceasefire and hostage release,” he stated on Wednesday immediately following the declaration of the agreement between Israel and Hamas by Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Guterres praised Qatar, Egypt, and the United States for their role in facilitating the deal.
According to Al Thani, the initial phase of the agreement, which is set to commence on Sunday, will see Israeli forces withdraw from populated areas in Gaza while Hamas will release 33 hostages over a period of 42 days during the ceasefire.
Discussions regarding the release of the remaining hostages and a lasting ceasefire are expected to continue.
This agreement, which aims to conclude the 15-month conflict, was announced just five days before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who had warned that “all hell would break out” if hostages were not released by that time.
“The humanitarian situation is at catastrophic levels,” Guterres remarked.
“Our primary focus now must be on alleviating the immense suffering caused by this conflict,” he added.
Approximately 45,000 Palestinians in Gaza have lost their lives due to the Israeli military response to the Hamas terrorist attack that resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and approximately 250 hostages taken on October 7, 2023.
Nearly half of the 2.1 million residents of Gaza have been displaced, and much of the region's infrastructure has been devastated.
“It is vital that the ceasefire eliminates significant security and political barriers to delivering aid across Gaza, allowing us to provide crucial life-saving humanitarian assistance,” Guterres emphasized.
“This agreement is a critical first step, but we must mobilize all efforts to pursue broader objectives,” he stressed.
“I urge all parties and relevant stakeholders to take advantage of this opportunity to create a credible political process that leads to a brighter future for Palestinians, Israelis, and the entire region, ending the occupation of Palestinian territories and achieving a negotiated two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully and securely,” he stated.
This agreement represented a foreign policy triumph in the final week of President Joe Biden's term, who attributed its success to “persistent and diligent American diplomacy.”
Biden noted the impact of “the intense pressure on Hamas and the altered regional dynamics following a ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran's diminishing influence.”
Trump also claimed credit, posting on Truth Social, “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only occurred as a result of our Historic Victory in November, demonstrating to the world that my Administration would pursue peace and negotiate agreements to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies.”
While Biden dismissed Trump's claims as a “joke,” he stated, “I instructed my team to work closely with the incoming administration to ensure we are all communicating consistently, as is the practice of American presidents.”
(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
