Guterres calls for Gaza ceasefire, Palestinian unity preservation
2 Min Read
Antonio Guterres has stressed the need to maintain the Gaza ceasefire and captive deals as the advance to the second phase negotiations fails.
-
Antonio Guterres, United Nations secretary-general, speaks during a news conference at the COP29 U.N. Climate Summit, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP)
The ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange deal in Gaza must be maintained, Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, urged in a statement on Friday.
The UN chief warned that the "coming days are critical", urging all parties to exert all efforts that would guarantee the preservation of the ceasefire and captive agreements, as well as fully adhere to their commitments and fulfill them wholly.
He further stressed that Israeli military presence must not remain in the long-term in Gaza, stressing that the enclave must remain part of an independent, democratic, and sovereign Palestinian state.
Gaza and the occupied West Bank, including occupied al-Quds, should be considered as one entity governed by a Palestinian administration, Guterres then declared.
The Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal must hold.
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 28, 2025
At this fragile moment, we must avoid a resumption of hostilities that would deepen the suffering and further destabilize a region that is already perched on a knife’s edge. pic.twitter.com/z70n02SGaY
Ceasefire talks fail to advance to second phase
On Friday, a senior Palestinian resistance official told Al Mayadeen that negotiations in Cairo have failed to pave the way for the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, blaming "Israel" for obstructing progress.
According to the official, the Israeli occupation is deliberately stalling to prolong the first phase of the agreement while gradually securing the release of its hostages.
He accused the Israeli regime of violating the deal by delaying entry into second-phase negotiations and reaffirmed that the resistance would not release any hostages without a comprehensive agreement.
"The Israeli side is attempting to use blackmail tactics, but we reject any deal that is not part of a full-package agreement," the official stated.
The official also noted that mediators have been unsuccessful in persuading the Israeli regime to engage in the next phase of talks. He added that Israeli political leaders are pressuring negotiators to extend the first phase on the condition that Hamas releases additional captives.
Read more: 'Enemy has no choice but to start second phase of negotiations': Hamas
