U.N. Secretary-General "Let's go for one year of war...Call for the release of hostages and a cease-fire"

Ahead of the first anniversary of the Gaza war, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for the release of hostages and a ceasefire.

In a video message, Guterres said on October 7 last year Hamas brutally killed and kidnapped innocent citizens, adding that today the international community must strongly condemn them.

Since that day, shocking violence and bloodshed have spread to Palestinians in Gaza and now Lebanese citizens, stressing that now is the time to release hostages and put down their guns.

Guterres said the U.N. must not give up hope amid the bloodshed and said it would continue to strive for peace in Israel, Palestine and the Middle East as a whole.