UN chief welcomes Hamas statement on Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan

The UN chief welcomed Hamas’ statement indicating its readiness to release hostages and engage on the basis of US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan for the Gaza Strip, his spokesman said Friday.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "urges all parties to seize the opportunity to bring the tragic conflict in Gaza to an end," Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

His statement came after senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk said Friday that the Palestine resistance group had agreed to Trump’s plan on a ceasefire in the besieged Strip "in principle," endorsing its main outlines, while stressing that implementation would require negotiations.

Guterres thanks Qatar and Egypt for their "invaluable" mediation work, Dujarric said.

"The Secretary-General reiterates his consistent call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and unfettered humanitarian access," he added.

The UN will support all efforts toward these objectives to prevent even more suffering, he stressed.