Guterres calls for permanent Gaza ceasefire as October 7 anniversary nears

09:05

The United Nations is pressing for the fragile calm in Gaza to evolve into a lasting political settlement, with Secretary-General António Guterres calling for a permanent ceasefire ahead of the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks.

In a message issued as the anniversary approaches, Guterres argued that the current pause in hostilities cannot be treated as an endpoint. He called instead for sustained humanitarian access, respect for international law and a political process capable of addressing the conflict’s underlying causes.

UN chief calls for a shift from truce to lasting peace

For Guterres, the immediate priority is to consolidate the ceasefire reached in October 2025 and move toward its next phase. The United Nations says the agreement has reduced the intensity of the conflict but has not yet produced the security, humanitarian access or political conditions required for a durable peace.

The secretary-general is urging the parties to fulfill their existing commitments while allowing humanitarian organizations to expand operations across Gaza. UN agencies have continued to report serious restrictions and deadly incidents, underscoring the fragility of the current arrangement.

The appeal comes as the humanitarian situation remains severe. The UN says more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, while most of Gaza’s population has experienced displacement and large parts of the territory have been devastated.

A painful anniversary for Israelis and Palestinians

Guterres also used the anniversary to remember those killed during the October 7 attack in Israel. The United Nations has described the assault as a large-scale terrorist attack in which more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, while 251 people were taken hostage.

The secretary-general stressed that recognition of Palestinian suffering cannot come at the expense of remembering the victims of the attack. His message frames the anniversary as a moment to acknowledge the trauma experienced on both sides while seeking an end to the continuing humanitarian crisis.

That dual focus reflects the UN's broader position that a sustainable settlement must address the security and political rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Humanitarian aid remains a central concern

A permanent halt to fighting would also create the conditions for a larger humanitarian response, according to the United Nations.

Aid agencies are seeking reliable and sustained access to Gaza to deliver food, medicine, shelter and other essential supplies. The UN has warned that the ceasefire alone has not resolved the territory’s humanitarian emergency, with restrictions on aid and continuing violence complicating relief operations.

The need for a significant expansion of assistance has become one of the central tests of the ceasefire. A reduction in fighting may offer temporary relief, but reconstruction and recovery require a much more stable environment.

The political question remains unresolved

Beyond the humanitarian emergency, the future political status and security arrangements in Gaza remain unsettled.

According to recent reporting, Israel continues to control substantial parts of the territory and has linked a full military withdrawal to the verified disarmament of Hamas. Hamas, meanwhile, has indicated a preference for a gradual disarmament process rather than an immediate unilateral surrender of its weapons.

Those differences have complicated efforts to move beyond the initial phase of the ceasefire. The United Nations is therefore emphasizing the need for a credible political framework rather than allowing the current pause to become another temporary interruption in the conflict.

Guterres has repeatedly argued that the longer-term objective should be a political settlement enabling Israelis and Palestinians to live alongside one another in peace and security. The UN continues to associate that objective with a negotiated two-state solution.

From anniversary to opportunity

Three years after October 7, the conflict has reshaped Gaza, Israel and the wider Middle East. The fighting has also extended beyond Gaza, involving confrontations with Hezbollah in Lebanon and tensions with Iran.

Against that backdrop, Guterres is presenting the anniversary not only as a day of remembrance but as an opportunity to move away from repeated cycles of violence.

The immediate challenge is to make the ceasefire permanent, increase humanitarian assistance and establish the political conditions for recovery. The broader challenge is to turn a fragile reduction in hostilities into a sustainable peace process.

For the United Nations, the measure of the current ceasefire will ultimately be whether it can become the starting point for a different regional future rather than another temporary pause before renewed violence.