UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the statement by Hamas in response to US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, calling it a “significant opportunity” to end the war in the besieged Palestinian territory.
According to UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres urged “all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end.”
Senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk announced that the Palestinian resistance group had agreed to the plan “in principle,” supporting its main framework but calling for further negotiations on implementation details.
Guterres expressed gratitude to Qatar and Egypt for their “invaluable mediation efforts,” reaffirming his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.
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Meanwhile, UN humanitarian relief chief Tom Fletcher said the UN was ready to act on the window of opportunity provided by the US initiative, with 170,000 metric tonnes of food, medicine, and shelter supplies already on standby across the region.
However, he stressed that Israeli-controlled crossings must open, ensuring safe passage for civilians and aid workers, and allowing unrestricted entry of humanitarian goods.
Despite diplomatic momentum, the situation in northern Gaza remains dire. The UN warns that Israeli military operations and heavy strikes on residential areas continue to claim lives and worsen the humanitarian catastrophe.
Dujarric added, “Military operations and heavy strikes, hitting residential areas and buildings, are driving up the death toll and continue to wreak havoc on the area.”
The UN reaffirmed its commitment to support all international efforts to stop the bloodshed and deliver life-saving aid to Palestinians trapped in the conflict.