With the third anniversary of Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel approaching, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued a blunt appeal: turn the fighting in Gaza into a permanent ceasefire and open the way for large-scale aid.
“It is time for the ceasefire to become permanent. It is time to allow humanitarian assistance at scale. And it is time to respect international law,” Mr Guterres said in a statement, calling for a “political path to lasting peace across the whole region.”
“Let this anniversary mark not only another year of mourning, but also a renewed determination to build a different future: one in which Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security, with their rights, dignity, and aspirations fulfilled,” he added.
In the statement, the UN chief also recognised Israel’s losses, describing the Hamas assault as “abhorrent” for “killing more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals” and for the abduction of 251 people as hostages.
Mr Guterres said Palestinians in Gaza have endured a “massive loss of life, displacement and destruction,” without giving a death toll.
“Their suffering, too, demands an end, now,” he added.
Since the 2023 attack, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 74,200 people, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas’ authority; the UN deems the ministry’s figures reliable.
Mr Guterres noted that a brief ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump in October 2025 “brought some relief. But it has yet to deliver security, adequate humanitarian assistance or a credible path to recovery and peace.”
Israel, which still controls most of Gaza, has refused to withdraw its soldiers until Hamas’ disarmament has been verified.
Hamas, meanwhile, has argued for a phased approach to disarmament rather than an immediate and unilateral surrender of its weapons.
The war that followed the 2023 attacks has also spread across other fronts, with Israel carrying out military operations in several arenas — including an invasion of southern Lebanon to confront Hezbollah, the Islamist movement backed by Iran, and a late-February war against Iran launched alongside the United States.
Israel puts military on alert for Oct 7 anniversary, warns Gazans
Israel’s defence minister said he had ordered the military to a heightened state of readiness ahead of the 7 October anniversary, warning that Gazans would face a “heavy price” if Israeli forces were attacked.
The office of Defence Minister Israel Katz said the directive was issued “in light of intelligence regarding Hamas’s intentions to attempt to carry out attacks and terror operations against our forces in Gaza on that day”.
“If, heaven forbid, our forces are harmed, the ones who will pay the heavy price will be Hamas and the population of Gaza – beyond all proportion,” the statement added.
Yesterday, speaking during a state ceremony marking three years since the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be “no Hamas rule in Gaza” and pledged to keep pursuing anyone involved in the assault or holding hostages.
