UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urges permanent Gaza ceasefire before October 7 anniversary

On October 5, 2026, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza ahead of the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. He urged respect for international law and humanitarian assistance at scale. Guterres acknowledged the brief ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump in October 2025 but said it has not delivered security or recovery. He also noted the massive loss of life and displacement in Gaza, with over 74,200 deaths reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry. The conflict has expanded to Lebanon and Iran.