UN chief urges continued dialogue to turn 'pause' into 'full humanitarian' cease-fire in Gaza

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the dialogue the led to the current four-day "humanitarian pause" in Gaza should be continued and transformed into a "full humanitarian" cease-fire.

In a statement by his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, Guterres said the pause agreed to by Israel and Hamas allowed the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including its northern section, which has been largely cut off for weeks.

He said that the aid "barely registers against the huge needs of 1.7 million displaced people," warning that "the humanitarian catastrophe" is growing worse by the day.

"The dialogue that led to the agreement must continue, resulting in a full humanitarian ceasefire, for the benefit of the people of Gaza, Israel and the wider region," according to the statement.

He reiterated his call for the remaining hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally.

"He urges all States to use their influence to end this tragic conflict and support irreversible steps towards the only sustainable future for the region: a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side, in peace and security," said the statement.

Guterres also praised the governments of Qatar, Egypt, and the US for facilitating this humanitarian pause arrangement, said Dujarric, adding that the UN chief "recognizes the critical role of the International Committee of the Red Cross.”

"The United Nations will continue to support these efforts in every possible way," said Dujarric.

A four-day humanitarian pause mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US went into effect on Friday, temporarily halting Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Despite widespread calls to continue the pause or make it permanent, Israel has vowed to resume its attacks once the pauses concludes. It has only left open the possibility of extending the pause if hostage swaps continue.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

It has since killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave. The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.