UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that there should be no Israeli military presence in the Gaza Strip and emphasized the need to prevent any form of ethnic cleansing of its residents.

In a media statement on Friday, Guterres reaffirmed that Gaza must remain an integral part of an independent, democratic, and sovereign Palestinian state.

He called for avoiding a resumption of hostilities in Gaza to prevent further human suffering and regional instability. He stressed the need for sustainable reconstruction in the strip and a unified, clear, and principled political solution.

Guterres also emphasized that the ceasefire and prisoner releases must hold, warning that the coming days are critical. He urged all parties to make every effort to prevent the collapse of the agreement and to fully honor their commitments.