United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres renewed his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, warning that continued Israeli aggression risks plunging the region into deeper tragedy.

His remarks, delivered on Tuesday, marked a somber anniversary of the ongoing Israeli war that has devastated Gaza since October 2023.

Guterres emphasized that the only path to stability lies in ending the Israeli occupation’s relentless attacks and establishing a credible political process grounded in justice.

“A permanent ceasefire and a credible political process are essential to prevent further bloodshed and pave the way for peace,” he declared, reiterating the United Nations’ “unwavering commitment” to support genuine peace efforts.

Calling for an end to all hostilities in Gaza, Israel, and the wider region, the UN chief urged world powers to stop allowing civilians — particularly Palestinians — to bear the brunt of violence and political paralysis.

“Civilians must not continue paying with their lives and their futures,” Guterres said.

In his address, Guterres urged the international community to honour the memory of tens of thousands of victims, most of them Palestinian civilians, who have perished under Israeli bombardment and siege.

“On this solemn anniversary, let us honour the memory of all the victims by working for the only path forward: a just and lasting peace, in which Israelis, Palestinians, and all the peoples of the region live side by side in security, dignity and mutual respect,” he said.

Observers noted that Guterres’ statement carried an implicit rebuke of the Israeli regime’s continued defiance of international law and United Nations resolutions demanding an end to the blockade and collective punishment of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

Referring to US President Donald Trump’s recently proposed ceasefire framework, Guterres described it as “an opportunity that must be seized” — while stressing that any agreement must ensure an end to Israel’s occupation and full humanitarian access to Gaza.

Diplomatic analysts viewed the Secretary-General’s comments as a call for accountability and action, after nearly two years of unrestrained Israeli attacks that have left much of Gaza in ruins.

The UN and aid organizations continue to warn of catastrophic conditions across Gaza. Nearly 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, the vast majority of them women and children, while hospitals, schools, and refugee shelters have been systematically bombed.

Famine and disease are spreading amid an Israeli-imposed blockade that has cut off food, water, fuel, and medical supplies to the besieged enclave. UN agencies have repeatedly described the situation as “a man-made disaster” and called for unimpeded humanitarian access — demands that Israel has ignored.

Pro-Palestinian groups welcomed Guterres’ renewed call but urged the UN to go beyond rhetoric by taking concrete action — including sanctions and legal measures — to compel Israel to comply with international law.

“Words are no longer enough,” said a joint statement from the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine. “For there to be a just peace, the siege must be lifted, the occupation must end, and the perpetrators of war crimes must face justice.”

As Gaza continues to bleed, Guterres’ plea highlights a growing global consensus: peace cannot be built on occupation, apartheid, and impunity. (ILKHA)