Hamas and Israel have reached a ceasefire agreement to end 15 months of conflict in the besieged Gaza Strip. Following months of negotiations, both sides finalized the agreement, with Qatar playing a key role as one of the mediators.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the ceasefire and prisoner agreement in Gaza. He called on all parties to uphold their commitments and ensure the full implementation of the agreement.
This information was reported by Voice of America on Wednesday (January 15). According to the report, the UN chief welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire and prisoner release agreement on Wednesday. The ceasefire is set to take effect on Sunday (January 19).
Speaking to journalists, António Guterres said, “I commend the mediators — Egypt, Qatar, and the United States — for their dedicated efforts in facilitating this agreement. Their steadfast commitment to finding a diplomatic solution has played a crucial role in achieving this progress. I urge all parties to honor their commitments and ensure the full implementation of this agreement.”
Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who led the mediation alongside the United States and Egypt, stated in Doha that the first phase of the agreement will last for 42 days. During this period, Hamas will release 33 prisoners who have been detained since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. In return, Israel will also release many Palestinian prisoners.
Al-Thani further mentioned that after the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire, details regarding the second and third phases will be finalized.
Notably, the UN chief had been advocating for a ceasefire and prisoner release since the beginning of the conflict, which erupted 15 months ago after Hamas launched an attack. This conflict has created a severe humanitarian crisis for the more than 2 million residents of Gaza.
According to Gaza’s health authorities, over 46,500 people have been killed in Gaza so far, the majority of whom are women and children. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been injured.
Guterres stated, “Our priority is to alleviate the severe suffering caused by this conflict. The UN is ready to support the implementation of this agreement and to enhance humanitarian aid for the countless Palestinians who are victims of this crisis.”
As part of the first phase of the agreement, provisions have been made to send 600 truckloads of humanitarian aid to Gaza daily. However, in recent months, these vehicles have often been looted for various reasons. Guterres emphasized the need to eliminate “significant security and political barriers” across Gaza to ensure increased distribution of aid.
The UN Secretary-General further stated, “Even knowing that we will face serious challenges and obstacles, we will do everything humanly possible on our part. We hope that alongside our efforts, other humanitarian organizations, the private sector, and bilateral initiatives will also continue such endeavors.”
Guterres also urged the international community not to lose sight of the larger goal of resolving the conflict through the establishment of two states for Israelis and Palestinians.