Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters, António Guterres commended mediators Egypt, Qatar and the United States for their dedicated efforts in brokering the agreement.
UNRWA flag-lowering ceremony at the UNRWA Lebanon Field Office in Beirut.
Remember lives lost
Before concluding his remarks, Mr. Guterres paid tribute to the civilians who have lost their lives in the conflict, including UN personnel and humanitarian workers.
The war in Gaza recently entered a third year.
Israel launched the military campaign following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on its territory. Some 1,200 people were killed and 250 were taken as hostages, with around 100 still being held.
More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
UNRWA threat looms
Gaza has a population of just over two million, and 1.9 million have been displaced, according to the UN Palestine refugee agency, UNRWA, which is housing hundreds of thousands in its schools-turned-shelters.
The Secretary-General has repeatedly referred to UNRWA as the “backbone” of relief efforts in the enclave. The agency has suffered immense losses as 265 staff members have been killed and its facilities have come under attack.
The ceasefire announcement comes as two Israeli laws aimed at ending UNRWA ‘s operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are due to take effect in mere weeks.
“The agency’s collapse – whether immediate or gradual – will only compound the immense suffering in Gaza,” Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on Tuesday at a meeting in Oslo focused on the two-State solution.