This article is published in association with United Nations.

As people celebrated across Gaza and Israel at the news of an agreement that could hasten the end of the two-year war, UN aid teams on Thursday insisted that they were ready to deliver humanitarian relief supplies into the shattered enclave at scale. We’ll be covering all news developments across the UN system throughout the day. UN News app users can follow live coverage here.

The UN chief said on Thursday the world has waited “far too long” for the desperately needed hostage and ceasefire deal breakthrough – urging Israel and Hamas to stick to its terms.

UN aid teams on the ground in Gaza are “cautious but hopeful”, warning that for now, bombing and shelling continues. 

Production team: Daniel Johnson in Geneva with Daniel Dickinson, Vibhu Mishra, Ileana Exaras and Matt Wells in New York

9 Oct 2025  11:35 pm

That’s the end of our live coverage tonight

That’s all from us for today, as the world reacts to news of a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza – described by UN Secretary-General António Guterres as a “desperately needed breakthrough.”

Speaking at UN Headquarters, he urged all sides to “fully abide by the agreement” and ensure it marks “the beginning of the end of this devastating war.”

The UN stands ready to surge supplies and aid teams into Gaza as soon as conditions allow.

The Israeli cabinet has yet to endorse the deal agreed by negotiators – a key step before a ceasefire comes into effect.

Visit our website for continuing coverage of the crisis – which now carries a glimmer of hope.

9 Oct 2025  11:28 pm

‘We paid a heavy price, but hope is returning’

In Gaza, emotions are running high after news spread on Thursday of the ceasefire and hostage release deal.

After two years of bombardment, displacement and death, Palestinians spoke of their “indescribable joy” that the fighting could be over – but also of unbearable grief for the children, relatives, and neighbours who they’ve lost.

Families displaced multiple times are now daring to hope they might one day return home. Yet life remains extremely hard: homes lie in ruins, aid is scarce and rain falls on torn tents.

Still, there is fragile optimism. 

“We are happy about the ceasefire,” one woman told our correspondent in Gaza. “We lost so much, but maybe now, God willing, we can begin again.”

UN News

9 Oct 2025  08:33 pm

170,000 metric tonnes of aid on standby for Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists the aid mechanism mandated by Security Council resolution 2720 has secured Israeli clearance for 170,000 metric tonnes of food, medical, nutrition, shelter, and other critical supplies.

Endorsed in December 2023, just months into the war, the 2720 mechanism is the UN’s coordination system to ensure aid can move safely and efficiently into Gaza through approved channels. Read more here.

Mr. Dujarric says the supplies, already in Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Egypt and Cyprus, are ready to be shipped.

“OCHA [the UN aid coordination office] tells us that the humanitarian community’s initial response plan for the first 60 days of the ceasefire prioritises the restoration of community-based and household-level distributions and services, which is a proven way to reach the most vulnerable,” he added.

UN News

9 Oct 2025  07:42 pm

UN relief chief outlines massive scale-up in aid for Gaza

Speaking via video from Riyadh, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher calls the Gaza ceasefire “a moment of success we must make count” after two years of war.

The deal proposed by the US President “must be the basis” for lifesaving work throughout the region, he says, outlining a plan to deliver food, medical supplies, water, shelter, and education for the two million in need across Gaza.

Huge needs

Mr. Fletcher stressed the importance of protecting civilians, clearing unexploded ordnance – and focusing on the needs of children. 

He underscored that aid can only reach those in need if agencies have sufficient fuel, secure crossings, unhindered access, and full funding from the international community – which currently stands at only 28 per cent of the $4 billion needed for 2025.

“Now is the time to make generosity count,” he says, pledging the UN and partners are ready to act immediately.

UN News

9 Oct 2025  07:10 pm

UNGA President Baerbock calls for full implementation of ceasefire

UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said agreement on phase one of the deal was “a ray of hope” after more than 700 days of conflict, stressing the need for the release of all Israeli hostages and the immediate, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.

“A permanent ceasefire can finally open a pathway to peace; ending the rule of Hamas in Gaza, ending the occupation and recognising the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people as well as the security of the State of Israel by the whole region,” she says.

9 Oct 2025  07:09 pm

Media briefing by UN relief chief Fletcher

Tom Fletcher, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, is speaking to the press in New York via video link from Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Watch the full press conference here:

https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/p/2503451/embedPlaykitJs/uiconf_id/49754663?iframeembed=true&entry_id=1_63ssczba&config%5Bplayback%5D={%22audioLanguage%22:%22en%22}&config[ui]={%22locale%22:%22en%22}

9 Oct 2025  07:06 pm

The guns are not yet silent: UNICEF

UNICEF’s spokesperson Ricardo Pires told UN News he had heard from colleagues on the ground that Israeli shelling is continuing in the north and south of Gaza.

“So, the guns haven’t gone silent yet and until they do, we can’t celebrate, so we’re cautious but hopeful”.

Listen to an audio clip on our Soundcloud audio page below featuring Ricardo and our Portuguese Unit producer, Felipe De Carvalho:

9 Oct 2025  05:55 pm

UNICEF sees ‘sense of relief’ among Gazans

James Elder, UNICEF spokesperson in Gaza, says he is witnessing “for the first time in a long time” a “sense of relief” on the ground there.

“There’s an immense amount of relief right now,” he notes, while also highlighting the immense challenges facing civilians in the Strip, including the tens of thousands of children severely malnourished.

UNRWA

Mr. Elder said Thursday marked “a very, very important beginning” but emphasises that there is still at lot of work to be done to end the humanitarian crisis, once the ceasefire comes into effect.

9 Oct 2025  05:49 pm

World leaders hail deal

Leaders across the globe are welcoming the ceasefire and hostage release agreement announced by US President Donald Trump.

Turkey’s President Erdoğan, Germany’s Chancellor Merz, France’s President Macron, Australia’s Prime Minister Albanese,  UK’s Prime Minister Starmer, and Spain’s Prime Minister Sánchez all voiced support.

“This is a moment of profound relief,” said Prime Minister Starmer, calling for a just and lasting peace.

Prime Minister Sánchez added: “Now it’s time to engage in dialogue, assist the civilian population, and look to the future. With hope. But also with justice and memory. So that the atrocities experienced are never repeated.”

WHO

9 Oct 2025  05:33 pm

WHO chief Tedros: ‘Best medicine is peace’

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has welcomed the ceasefire and hostage release deal, calling it “a big step towards lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.”

He called on Israel and Hamas to abide by the deal so “the suffering of all civilians finally ends, and all hostages are brought home respectfully.”

“The best medicine is peace,” he added.