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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza as the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel approaches.
In a statement on Monday, Guterres said the current ceasefire should become permanent, while urging the immediate expansion of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and respect for international law.
He also called for a political process capable of delivering lasting peace across the Middle East, saying the anniversary should renew efforts to create conditions where Israelis and Palestinians can live alongside each other in peace and security, with their rights and dignity protected.
“It is time for the ceasefire to become permanent. It is time to allow humanitarian assistance at scale. And it is time to respect international law,” Guterres said in a statement.
“Let this anniversary mark not only another year of mourning, but also a renewed determination to build a different future: one in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security, with their rights, dignity, and aspirations fulfilled,” Guterres said.
Guterres described the October 7 Hamas attack as abhorrent, noting that more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed and 251 people were taken hostage.
He also highlighted the scale of suffering among Palestinians in Gaza, citing extensive loss of life, displacement and destruction.
“Their suffering, too, demands an end, now,” Guterres said.
The Palestinian Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas authorities, says more than 74,200 people have been killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The United Nations has said the ministry’s casualty figures are generally reliable.
Guterres said a ceasefire announced by United States President Donald Trump in October 2025 had provided some relief but had yet to deliver lasting security, sufficient humanitarian assistance or a credible route to recovery and peace.
Israel continues to control most of Gaza and has maintained that its forces will not withdraw until Hamas has been disarmed and the disarmament verified.
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Hamas has instead called for a gradual disarmament process rather than an immediate and unilateral surrender of its weapons.
The conflict that followed the October 2023 attack has also expanded beyond Gaza, with Israel launching military operations on multiple fronts, including an invasion of southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Islamist group.
Israel and the United States also launched a war against Iran in late February, further widening the regional conflict.
