Guterres “welcomes the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, supported by Egypt and the United States,” the spokesman said in a brief statement received in Geneva, Switzerland.
“The United Nations will mobilize all its capabilities to support the implementation of the agreement and maximize its positive impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” he added, as quoted by French agency AFP.
The deal provides for the release of 50 hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four-day ceasefire in the area.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also welcomed the agreement, but stressed that it is “not enough to end civilian suffering.”
The WHO chief called for the release of all hostages and, in the meantime, for care to be provided to those who remain in captivity.
He also called for a ceasefire to effectively provide long-term and safe assistance to the people of Gaza.
About 240 people were kidnapped on the day of the Hamas attack on Israeli territory, October 7, which Israeli authorities say killed 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians.
Since then, the Gaza Strip has been the target of retaliatory attacks by Israel, killing more than 14,000 people, according to Hamas.
Source: DN
