UN chief acknowledges Israel-Hamas agreement but emphasizes the necessity for further action

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the temporary truce deal reached between Israel and Hamas but emphasized that more needs to be done, advocating for a humanitarian ceasefire in besieged Gaza. He expressed that the UN will mobilize all its capacities to support the implementation and maximize positive impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The international community has welcomed the temporary humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas, which is expected to come into force on Thursday. The top UN official leading efforts to secure a lasting peace in the Middle East, Tor Wennesland, also welcomed the announced 96-hour “humanitarian pause” in war-shattered Gaza and emphasized the need to facilitate the release of hostages and alleviate the dire needs of Palestinians in Gaza. UN humanitarians reiterated their readiness to ramp up lifesaving aid to the enclave and called for safe, unimpeded humanitarian access in the Strip.