"HISTORY"

Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Sami Bahous welcomed "the news that 50 hostages, all women, and children, will be released in return for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children, and a much-needed humanitarian pause.” UNIFEED

Informal comments to the media by Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, on Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine.

Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths called for a cessation of hostilities in Gaza for an “indefinite period” in order to “facilitate an unimpeded humanitarian response” and to “give the people of Gaza a breather upon the terrible things that have been put on them on these last few weeks.” He also called “without conditions” for the release of all hostages. UNIFEED

With merely 13 months remaining until its first post-independence elections in South Sudan, UNMISS and partners hosted a political parties' forum on federalism to galvanize momentum in ongoing peace processes. UMNISS

A once-daily dose of a widely available medicine taken over six months cut a child’s risk of developing the most dangerous and difficult form of tuberculosis (TB) by more than half, according to results from a major clinical trial funded by Unitaid and led by Stellenbosch University. UNITAID

The UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, said, “Even wars have rules.” UNIFEED

The UN flag flew at half-mast at the Organization’s offices around the world in memory of the 101 staff members of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) killed in Gaza since 7 October. UNIFEED / UNTV CH / UNIS VIENNA

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday spoke about the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory at a news conference in Amman at the end of his mission to Egypt and Jordan. OHCHR

Women are playing an increasingly high-profile role in bringing peace and security to Somalia, concluded participants in a UN-supported meeting today in Mogadishu called Global Open Day on Women, Peace and Security. UNSOM

Briefing reporters on the situation in Gaza, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The way forward is clear. A humanitarian ceasefire. Now. All parties respecting all their obligations under international humanitarian law. Now.” UNIFEED