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SvennoJ on 07 October 2025
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‘A just and lasting peace’: Guterres urges action on Gaza war’s second anniversary

Two years since the Gaza war began, UN chief Antonio Guterres says the world must act “with even greater urgency” to end the hostilities.

“Two years ago today, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups launched an abhorrent large-scale terror attack on Israel,” he said. “On this day, let us remember all those who were killed and suffered horrific violence.”

He said captives remain “in deplorable conditions” in Gaza and repeated his call to “release them unconditionally and immediately”.

Guterres said Trump’s ceasefire proposal “must be seized” to bring the conflict to an end, calling for a “permanent ceasefire and a credible political process” to pave the way for peace.

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

Still won't call it a genocide. Captives also remain in deplorable conditions in Israeli torture jails in the thousands.

Western leaders urge release of captives, welcome plan to end war

Western leaders have called for the release of the captives held in Gaza and a ceasefire on the second anniversary of the start of the war.

  • British Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to continue “working with our international partners until all the hostages are home and there is lasting peace in the region”.
  • Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris, who also holds the foreign affairs brief, said “a window now exists to end this unimaginable suffering, for both Israelis and Palestinians”. He added: “To halt the violence, return the hostages to their families and get urgently needed humanitarian aid into Gaza at scale.”
  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz insisted that “all the hostages must be released immediately”.
  • Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement that “we must never forget the atrocities that were inflicted by Hamas”, and also welcomed Trump’s plan to end the conflict.
  • French President Emmanuel Macron said: “I reiterate France’s call: the release of all hostages and a ceasefire must take place without delay.” He added: “Such an abomination must never happen again.”
  • Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called October 7, 2023 “one of the darkest days in history”. But she also said Trump’s plan “offers an opportunity that must not be wasted to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities, bring home the hostages still in Hamas’s hands, and begin a process toward peace and security throughout the Middle East.”
  • European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the “immediate release of all hostages and a ceasefire are now within reach”. She added: “This moment must be seized to pave the way for a lasting peace in the region, based on the two-state solution.”