- Marking the second anniversary of the “abhorrent” Hamas terror attacks that killed more than 1,250 people in Israel, Guterres urged both sides to stop “making civilians pay with their lives and their futures.”
Amid renewed international momentum to end the war in Gaza, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate halt to hostilities and the release of all hostages, as peace talks between Israel and Hamas resumed in Egypt.
Marking the second anniversary of the “abhorrent” Hamas terror attacks that killed more than 1,250 people in Israel, Guterres urged both sides to stop “making civilians pay with their lives and their futures.”
He emphasized that the ongoing conflict continues to inflict immense suffering on innocent people in Gaza, Israel, and the wider region, urging, “End the suffering for all.”
In Sharm El-Sheikh, Egyptian and Qatari mediators have launched a new round of indirect negotiations between delegations from Israel and Hamas. According to Egypt’s Al-Qahera News, the discussions aim to finalize a mechanism for the release of hostages held by Hamas and other groups in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, reports dw.com
Talks are expected to continue through the week, with optimism that progress may soon be achieved.
US President Donald Trump described the discussions as “very positive,” saying the goal is to “release the hostages, end the war in Gaza, and finally achieve long-sought peace in the Middle East.”
He added that the first phase of his administration’s peace plan — focused on hostage release — “should be completed this week.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while noting cautious optimism, said the war would not be over until both sides demonstrate genuine commitment.
“You can’t release hostages in the middle of strikes, so the strikes will have to stop,” Rubio told NBC News, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire before moving toward post-war governance in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called this “a decisive week” for achieving the first phase of the peace plan. Speaking in Tel Aviv before traveling to Egypt, he urged all parties to sustain diplomatic momentum, saying, “Every effort is worth it for this. We must not abandon diplomacy now.”
Wadephul also met with relatives of Israeli hostages and later joined EU and Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers in Kuwait to coordinate regional support for peace efforts.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, world leaders appear increasingly united in pushing for a breakthrough that could end the bloodshed, secure the release of captives, and open a path toward lasting stability in the region.
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