Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
2025 Nobel Peace Prize
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Lebanon/Israel
Ukraine
Deputy Secretary-General/Trip Announcement
Abyei
International Days
Security Council
Briefing
Financial Contribution
2025 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
The Secretary-General congratulates Maria Corina Machado on being awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. He notes that for decades, Ms. Machado has been a champion of democracy and a voice of unity in her country of Venezuela.
The Secretary-General says that in its statement, the Nobel Committee reminded us that the tools of democracy are the tools of peace. He says that at a time when democracy and the rule of law are under threat globally, today’s prize is a tribute to all those working to safeguard civil and political rights around the world, and a stirring reminder of the resilience and the power of the democratic spirit.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that the announcement of a ceasefire has generated a new hope for relief at last in Gaza.
Today, within minutes of the announcement by Israeli authorities that the ceasefire had taken effect at noon, local time, thousands of people resumed movement north, mainly on foot, but also in vehicles and animal-drawn carts.
Some of the people who have already managed to reach Gaza City reported that they arrived back to find their homes had sustained further damage.
The UN and its partners are ready to scale up the humanitarian response immediately. In order to deliver on this plan, the UN needs the opening of additional crossings, safe movement for aid workers and all other civilians, the unrestricted entry of goods, visas for staff, and space for the UN and its NGO partners to operate, in line with humanitarian principles.
After two years of war, the rehabilitation of infrastructure is urgently needed to enable recovery. The private sector is also critical. OCHA appeals to all leaders backing the ceasefire to help us secure the conditions to carry out unimpeded humanitarian operations.
It’s also critical that Member States extend generous funding for the response so that the humanitarian communities can scale up.
And just an update on some of the work that humanitarian teams were able to carry out yesterday in Gaza: They deployed an ambulance, helped prepare a low-lying area for the winter, and collected fuel, medical items and other critical supplies from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing, where they also offloaded incoming supplies to replenish stocks that will enter in the coming days.
LEBANON/ISRAEL
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reports that Israel Defense Forces military presence and activities in the area of operations continue.
On Thursday, the peacekeepers observed the Israeli forces open heavy machine gunfire towards the North near Sarda in Sector East. Also, UNIFIL reports that IDF soldiers in vehicles pointed a green laser towards UNIFIL personnel at one of the UN positions in Sector East. The day before, an Israeli soldier aimed his rifle at UN personnel near Marwahin in Sector West. Once again, UNIFIL reiterates that these acts of interference and intimidation must end.
Meanwhile, a UNIFIL patrol on Wednesday discovered the remains of an unauthorized ammunition depot containing ammunition, including a mortar shell, in Sector East. That was reported to the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The mission continues to support capacity-building of the Lebanese Armed Forces, including by conducting a deck landing exercise on Wednesday with the Lebanese Air Force aboard a Maritime Task Force vessel. This week UNIFIL also conducted a coordinated combat engineering training activities with personnel from the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=10%20October%202025