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Gaza: Guterres Hails Hostage Release, Renews Urgent Ceasefire Call
UNITED NATIONS, May 12, 2025 – UN Secretary-General António Guterres today welcomed a reported release of hostages connected to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, describing it as a significant positive development. However, he immediately reiterated his urgent demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, stressing that it is crucial to alleviate the immense suffering of civilians and allow essential aid to reach those in desperate need.
The Secretary-General’s remarks, issued from UN Headquarters, follow reports of a hostage release – details of which were not immediately specified in his initial statement but are a focal point in the protracted crisis gripping the region. The taking of hostages occurred during the initial attacks that triggered the current phase of the conflict. The international community, including the UN, has consistently called for the unconditional release of all individuals held captive.
Welcoming any release as a “glimmer of hope” and a step that brings families closer to reunification, Mr. Guterres emphasized that every single hostage must be freed. He underscored the severe human cost of the conflict, highlighting that the release serves as a stark reminder of the individuals caught up in the violence.
However, the UN chief made it clear that while welcoming this step, the fundamental situation on the ground remains catastrophic. He renewed his impassioned call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. For months, he and other UN officials have warned about the dire conditions in Gaza, where ongoing hostilities have resulted in widespread death and injury, mass displacement, and a severe humanitarian crisis.
A ceasefire, Mr. Guterres stated, is not just a political objective but a vital necessity. It is the only way to effectively protect civilians from further harm and to ensure the safe and unimpeded delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance – including food, water, medicine, and shelter – into and throughout Gaza. Despite concerted efforts by the UN and humanitarian partners, aid delivery has been insufficient to meet the overwhelming needs due to ongoing fighting and access challenges.
The Secretary-General reiterated the UN’s consistent position: all parties to the conflict must respect international humanitarian law. This includes the obligation to protect civilians, ensure humanitarian access, and treat captives humanely. He stressed that violence must cease, and that steps towards a lasting resolution are urgently needed.
Today’s message from the UN chief combines cautious optimism over a positive development – the hostage release – with a forceful restatement of the most critical immediate need: an end to the fighting through a ceasefire. It underscores the UN’s ongoing efforts to address both the symptom (hostages, humanitarian crisis) and the cause (the conflict itself) of the devastating situation in Gaza.
Gaza: Guterres hails hostage release, renews ceasefire call
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At 2025-05-12 12:00, ‘Gaza: Guterres hails hostage release, renews ceasefire call’ was published according to Top Stories. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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