UN Chief Welcomes Continued Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release
16 February 2025
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the continued ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of a hostage by Palestinian militants.
The ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, went into effect on May 21, 2023, after months of escalating violence between Israel and Hamas. Guterres called the ceasefire “a welcome and necessary step” and urged both sides to fully respect it.
On February 15, 2025, Palestinian militants released an Israeli soldier who had been held hostage since 2019. The soldier’s release was negotiated by Qatar. Guterres called the release “a positive development” and urged all parties to continue working towards a comprehensive and permanent peace agreement.
The Secretary-General also noted that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. He called on the international community to provide dringend humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
In a statement, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, said that the “continued ceasefire and hostage release are signs of hope.” However, he warned that “much work remains to be done to address the underlying causes of the conflict and to build a just and lasting peace.”
The United Nations has been playing a key role in supporting the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The UN Special Envoy for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, has been leading efforts to facilitate negotiations between the two sides.
The United Nations is also providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the main provider of humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in Gaza. UNRWA provides food, shelter, healthcare, and education to over 1.5 million refugees in Gaza.
The United Nations remains committed to supporting a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The UN calls on all parties to the conflict to respect the ceasefire, to release all prisoners, and to work towards a comprehensive peace agreement.
UN chief welcomes continued Gaza ceasefire and hostage release
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