At a press conference in Addis Ababa, the United Nations secretary-general said the organization cannot by itself stop the fighting in Gaza and that the only durable solution is a negotiated two‑state settlement.

"The UN has not the power to stop the fighting in Gaza," the secretary-general said, adding that diplomats and mediators from Qatar, Egypt and others are supporting efforts on ceasefire arrangements. He said phases two and three of negotiations are "absolutely vital" and that it would be "inconceivable" for war to resume in Gaza.

The secretary-general said humanitarian assistance grew dramatically after the ceasefire but remains far short of needs for "2,300,000 Palestinians in Gaza that now live in the middle of ruins." He said the UN is doing "everything we can to make sure that the Palestinian people has access to the minimum necessary to avoid the most traumatic situations" and called for continued international support to scale up aid deliveries.

On the political question, he reiterated that the only acceptable long‑term outcome is a two‑state solution: a sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. He noted limitations at the Security Council but said the UN is supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at sustaining the ceasefire and achieving release of hostages.

The secretary-general did not announce new operational timelines or a detailed aid delivery plan at the press event; he described stepped negotiations and diplomatic support already under way.