Guterres praises the extension of the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon for 45 days.

17 May 2026 (PEN) UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the announcement of a 45-day extension of the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, following talks between the two sides facilitated by the United States.

The UN spokesperson's office said in a statement that Guterres calls on the parties to abide by the truce, stop the attacks and respect international humanitarian law at all times.

The spokesperson affirmed the United Nations’ support for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

In a related context, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Lebanon, Imran Riza, said that civilians are paying an increasingly tragic price as a result of the Israeli raids, despite the ceasefire being in place for a month.

Reza added that the victims are "lives lost, families torn apart, and communities living in constant fear and displacement."

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned that children in Lebanon are the most affected by violence and displacement, citing reports that at least 59 children were killed or injured in one week, despite the ceasefire declared on April 17.