Real progress in Gaza will depend on removing barriers to humanitarian aid delivery rather than merely achieving a "silencing of the guns," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday, following news of a cease-fire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas that could bring an end to the two-year conflict.
He spoke to reporters following the announcement that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a cease-fire and hostage-release deal, which could help end the two-year war in the devastated Palestinian territory.
The U.N. chief reiterated his call for all parties to "abide fully" by the terms of the agreement.
"But to turn this cease-fire into real progress, we need more than the silencing of the guns," Guterres said, following months of calls from the body for Israel to stop obstructing the delivery of aid.
"We need full, safe and sustained access for humanitarian workers; the removal of red tape and impediments; and the rebuilding of shattered infrastructure."
The United Nations is ready to provide full support, able to surge food, water, medical supplies and shelter "at once," Guterres said.
"We and our partners are prepared to move – now," he said. "We have the expertise, the distribution networks, and community relationships in place to act."
Last week, U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said the U.N. had 170,000 tons of humanitarian aid prepositioned in the region, ready to enter Gaza.
Guterres also called on all sides to seize the opportunity to "establish a credible political path forward."
That would be "a path towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution," he said.
