HAMILTON, Canada

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday welcomed the Gaza ceasefire deal as the truce between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas took effect, describing it as "a glimmer of relief."

"For Israelis and Palestinians alike, this deal offers a glimmer of relief. That glimmer must become the dawn of peace – the beginning of the end of this devastating war," Guterres told a news conference at the UN headquarters in New York.

He called on all sides and the international community to "seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward, a path towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution."

"A path to a just and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and to wider peace and security in the Middle East," he added.

Guterres praised the agreement as a testament to "the power and potential of diplomacy," emphasizing that "the solutions to conflicts are not found on the battlefield. They must be forged at the negotiating table."

"And then, crucially, they must be fully implemented, ensuring safety, security, and dignity for all," he said, stressing that the ceasefire should serve as a foundation for lasting peace based on justice and mutual recognition.

The UN chief hailed the efforts of the US, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye toward brokering the "desperately needed" ceasefire.

For the deal to "truly count," Guterres urged all sides to "fully abide by the terms of the agreement and to fully embrace the opportunities it presents."

He expressed the UN's full support for a permanent ceasefire. "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," he said, noting that the UN can "scale up food, water, medical and shelter assistance at once."

He stressed that "full, safe and sustained access for humanitarian workers" is needed for real progress of the ceasefire.

"And we need Member States to ensure that humanitarian operations are properly funded to meet the immense needs," Guterres added.

He also noted the "unbearable human cost of this conflict," and expressed sorrow for those killed, including the UN personnel and humanitarian workers.

On Sept. 29, US President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point ceasefire plan for Gaza that includes the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the entire Gaza Strip.

A second phase of the plan calls for the establishment of a new governing mechanism in Gaza without Hamas' participation, the formation of a security force comprising Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, and the disarmament of Hamas. It also stipulates Arab and Islamic funding for the new administration and the reconstruction of the Strip, with limited participation from the Palestinian Authority.

While the majority of Arab and Muslim countries have welcomed the plan, some officials have also said that many details in it need discussion and negotiations to be fully implemented.