Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, urged the Security Council to “insist on maintaining the ceasefire” established by the agreement between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas. In a statement on the website of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), he emphasized that the agreement provides hope for millions affected by the conflict.
“We call on the Security Council to use its collective voice and influence to insist on preserving the ceasefire, upholding international law, and removing obstacles to saving lives,” Fletcher stated. “The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas offers much-needed hope to millions whose lives have been devastated by this conflict,” he added.
Fletcher confirmed that humanitarian agencies are prepared to scale up assistance to those impacted. “We will respond with the ambition, creativity, and urgency this moment demands, despite the significant security and political challenges we face,” he assured. “To help save lives, we urge all parties to fully adhere to international humanitarian law.”
On January 15, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced that mediation efforts by Doha, Cairo, and Washington had resulted in an agreement between Israel and Hamas to release hostages and implement a ceasefire.
Set to take effect on Sunday, January 19, the first phase of the agreement will last 42 days. During this period, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including military and civilian women, injured civilians, children, and the elderly, in exchange for the release of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Additionally, Israel will withdraw its forces 700 meters back to the borders of Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.
As the first phase unfolds, the parties plan to finalize the details of the second and third phases, which include a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
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Based on TASS materials