UNRWA chief welcomes Gaza ceasefire, demands support for providing humanitarian assistance

By Betul Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – The chief of UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Thursday hailed a ceasefire agreement to end a 2-year Israeli war on Gaza, calling on UN member states to support the agency to carry out its humanitarian mission in the war-torn territory.

“The agreement to finally secure a ceasefire in Gaza and release the hostages is a huge relief. It will bring respite to people who survived the worst bombardment, displacement, loss, and grief for two long years,” UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on US social media company X.

Lazzarini said that UNRWA has medicine, essential supplies, and a sufficient amount of food for the upcoming three months for the entire Gaza population.

He stressed the importance of UNRWA teams in the implementation of the agreement and called on “all member states to support UNRWA to do its work to assist people in need in the coming critical period.”

A ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas early Thursday in Egypt’s Red Sea city of Sharm el-Sheikh, based on a plan presented by US President Donald Trump.

The 20-point plan, first announced on Sept. 29, includes the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas, and the rebuilding of Gaza.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 67,200 Palestinians in the enclave, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has left Gaza largely uninhabitable, leading to widespread starvation and diseases.