“There is a very positive and jubilant atmosphere in Gaza this morning and this has been the case all night. » said Olga Cherevko of the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. “There were people whistling, partying and celebrating.”
Talk to UN News from the devastated enclave, Ms. Cherevko stressed that the immediate humanitarian priorities remain unchanged: “reaching the most vulnerable with the aid we need now in adequate volumes and being able to provide it to those in need… Obviously no humanitarian aid can ever replace peace. This agreement is therefore more important than ever.
UN aid workers have around 170,000 tonnes of food, shelter, medicine and other essential items waiting outside Gaza.
These can be loaded onto trucks and entered the Gaza Strip as soon as a ceasefire is implemented, the aid worker explained, adding that fighting had not stopped as of Thursday morning.
“We look forward to seeing what our role will be in the future and how to get this help quickly and efficiently to people who of course desperately need it.” »
Progress of the American plan
The development follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement Wednesday evening that Israel and Hamas had « signed » the first phase of his 20-point peace plan, following days of intense indirect negotiations in Egypt.
President Trump announced on social media that Hamas had agreed to release all the hostages, later adding that this could happen on Monday.
His comments came at the end of a third day of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Egypt, where in addition to American mediators, representatives from Qatar and Turkey also led the negotiations.
During the Hamas-led terrorist attacks against Israel that started the war on October 7, 2025, 251 people were taken hostage. Reports indicate that 48 of them are still detained in Gaza and around 20 are still alive.
Other elements of the announced agreement include the withdrawal of Israeli military forces to “an agreed line,” Mr. Trump noted.
In confirming the agreement, Hamas political leaders called on the international community to ensure that Israel respects its terms, which include the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed a “great day for Israel,” ahead of a meeting of his security cabinet Thursday afternoon to approve the first phase of the deal – including an immediate ceasefire that would begin immediately, according to media reports.
Encouragement from Guterres
“I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by President Donald J. Trump,” the UN chief said. Antonio Guterres in a statement.
Echoing these comments and welcoming the development, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher echoed his call to “get the hostages out and scale up aid – quickly”.
He added: “Our teams are fully mobilized to move trucks on a large scale and save lives. They need safe access.”
Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations agency for the Palestinians, UNRWAdescribed the « tremendous relief » felt by all those affected by the war, which has killed tens of thousands of Gazans, in addition to the nearly 1,200 Israelis murdered by Hamas during its unprecedented attack in southern Israel two years ago.
“The agreement aimed at finally obtaining a ceasefire in #Gaza and freeing the hostages is a huge relief“, Mr Lazzarini said in an online message. “This will bring respite to people who have survived the worst bombings, displacement, loss and heartbreak for two long years. After their terrible ordeal, the Palestinian hostages and detainees will finally reunite with their families. »
WHO is ready: Tedros
Also welcoming the announcement of a deal, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the still “urgent” needs of patients across Gaza and said that the agency “is ready to intensify its work…to support the rehabilitation of the destroyed health system.”
From the United Nations World Food Program (PAM), Executive Director Cindy McCain supported The UN chief called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and stressed the need to “act NOW” to deliver aid.
“Unrestricted humanitarian access is urgently needed to provide life-saving food and assistance,” she said. “WFP is on the ground and ready to scale up operations, but we must act NOW – there is no time to lose.”
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
