In the wake of profound changes across the Middle East — including new Governments in Lebanon and Syria and a recent agreement for a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza — speakers in the Security Council today, during a day-long debate, offered their visions for how to ensure that these developments usher in positive changes for the region.

As the ceasefire in Gaza entered into force yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have a 60-day plan to increase bed capacity across some hospitals in the north and south — and deploy professional health workers from abroad. WHO notes that some 30,000 people in Gaza have sustained life-changing injuries and need specialized care.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council’s quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, in New York today:

Speakers in the Security Council urged Israel today to respect its long-established ceasefire agreements with Lebanon and Syria and stay clear of the areas where United Nations peacekeeping missions are deployed to carry out their duties.

In Burkina Faso, nearly 6 million people are estimated to need assistance this year, according to the UN’s newly released 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which aims to help 3.7 million people in support of the transitional authority’s national plan.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the designation of Sigrid Kaag of the Netherlands as Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority (UNSCO) ad interim.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Headquarters, in Naqoura, Lebanon, today:

The Russian Federation’s daily attacks on Ukraine bring death and terror to the local population, while 36 per cent of the country’s population will require humanitarian assistance in 2025, the Security Council heard today, even as delegates traded accusations about the competing geopolitical agendas at stake.

Updating its sanctions regime concerning Libya today, the Security Council exempted certain activities from the arms embargo on that country, allowed for the investment of its frozen assets and created new sanctions designations for those involved in the illicit trade in Libyan petroleum products.

The Head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) expressed concern about recent actions against Serbia-funded institutions there. UNMIK notes that the actions resulted in the closure of several institutions, including post offices, provisional institutions’ buildings and social welfare centres.