UN secretary general António Guterres on Monday called for a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians ahead of the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel.

“Let this anniversary mark not only another year of mourning, but also a renewed determination to build a different future,” Mr Guterres said in New York.

He said Israelis and Palestinians should be able to live side by side in peace and security, with their rights, dignity, and aspirations fulfilled.

“These horrors must never be repeated,” he added.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other armed groups killed more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and abducted 251 people to Gaza.

The ‌attacks triggered the Gaza war, in which more than 74,000 Palestinians have since been killed, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza.

A ceasefire has been in place since October 2025, although deadly attacks have continued. Relations between the Israeli government and the United Nations remain deeply strained, with Israel accusing Mr Guterres of bias and the UN chief repeatedly criticising Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

Mr Guterres also paid tribute to the victims of the October 7 attacks.

“Nothing can justify these atrocities,” he said. “Their suffering, and the enduring grief of their families, must never be forgotten.”

The UN chief also highlighted the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza following the war.

“Their suffering, too, demands an end, now,” he said.

Mr Guterres said the ceasefire had brought some relief but had yet to deliver security, adequate humanitarian assistance or a credible path to recovery and peace. He urged all sides to fully implement their commitments and move to the next phase of the ceasefire.

“It is time for the ceasefire to become permanent. It is time to allow humanitarian assistance at scale. And it is time to respect international law,” he said. “We must build the political path to lasting peace across the whole region.”

(dpa/NAN)