“This marks a significant advancement, yet much more action is essential,” Mr. Guterres stated through a spokesperson, Farhan Haq. Tor Wennesland, the UN’s top official dedicated to fostering enduring peace in the Middle East, supported these remarks and expressed approval of the recently announced 96-hour “humanitarian pause” in Gaza, which has been devastated by conflict. “This pause should be fully utilized to ensure the release of hostages and to address the urgent needs of Palestinians in Gaza.” This announcement comes as UN humanitarian teams reiterated their readiness to enhance lifesaving aid to the region.
Following the announcement of the four-day ceasefire, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) made a renewed appeal for safe and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza. “Hostilities must cease so that we can swiftly escalate our response,” stated Dr. Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “We cannot continue to provide mere drops of aid in an ocean of need.” Additionally, WHO reported that a new evacuation operation is underway at the besieged Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, with plans for further evacuations in northern Gaza.
Reports indicate that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is set to commence within 24 hours of its announcement. In his statement, Mr. Wennesland acknowledged the efforts of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States in facilitating this agreement. Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO’s representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, welcomed news of the humanitarian pause and the potential release of hostages, but stressed that a true cessation of hostilities is necessary. During a WHO press conference in Cairo, Dr. Al-Mandhari called for a “permanent ceasefire,” urging the conflicting parties to prioritize the health and welfare of their populations. He also led a moment of silence to honor WHO staff member Dima Alhaj, who was killed in Gaza, along with numerous relatives. “In our mourning, we are reminded of the senselessness of this conflict and the reality that, today, nowhere in Gaza is safe for civilians, including our own UN colleagues,” he remarked. Since the onset of Israel’s retaliation against Hamas’ attacks on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths in southern Israel and approximately 240 hostages taken, 108 UN personnel have lost their lives in the Strip.
Dr. Peeperkorn disclosed on Wednesday that an evacuation mission is currently being coordinated with humanitarian partners such as the Palestinian Red Crescent and Médecins Sans Frontières to assist patients and healthcare workers still in Al-Shifa. This mission follows the earlier evacuation of 31 premature infants on Sunday. Of the 220 patients and 200 healthcare workers remaining at the hospital, priority is being given to 21 dialysis patients, 29 patients with spinal injuries, and those in intensive care, according to Dr. Peeperkorn. He also mentioned that requests for evacuation have been received from three additional hospitals in northern Gaza: Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, Al-Awda Hospital, and the Indonesian Hospital, with planning underway to ensure these evacuations occur in the coming days. He emphasized that such evacuations are conducted only upon request and as a last resort.
Dr. Al-Mandhari lamented that even hospitals are not shielded from the “horrors” of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. WHO has recorded 178 attacks on healthcare facilities since October 7, and out of the 36 hospitals in the enclave, 28 are no longer operational, Dr. Peeperkorn informed journalists. The eight remaining hospitals, all located in the south, are “overwhelmed,” he noted, and every effort must be made to maintain their functionality and increase their bed capacity. Prior to the current escalation, Gaza had approximately 3,500 hospital beds, a number that has now dwindled to less than 1,400.
The prospect of a ceasefire has instilled hope for improved access to aid for the desperate civilians in Gaza and an increase in the flow of relief supplies. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the number of aid trucks entering Gaza since October 21 represents only 14 percent of the monthly volume of humanitarian and commercial shipments that were reaching the enclave before the current conflict erupted, excluding fuel, which had been entirely barred by Israeli authorities until just a few days ago. OCHA reported that on Tuesday, 63,800 liters of fuel entered Gaza from Egypt, following an Israeli decision on November 18 to “allow the daily entry of small amounts of fuel for essential humanitarian operations.” The fuel is being distributed by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, to support food distribution and the operation of generators in hospitals, water and sanitation facilities, shelters, and other vital services.
As the ceasefire agreement was announced, concerns about widespread hunger in the north, which has been cut off from the south due to Israeli military operations, have intensified. Humanitarian organizations have been unable to provide assistance in that region since November 7. Due to a lack of cooking facilities and fuel, residents are resorting to consuming the limited raw vegetables or unripe fruits that remain available, according to OCHA, while no bakeries are operational. OCHA also warned that livestock in the north are facing starvation and the risk of death because of shortages of feed and water, with crops increasingly being abandoned. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently declared that it considers the entire civilian population in Gaza to be food insecure.
The psychological impact of incessant bombings, displacement, and extreme overcrowding in UNRWA shelters—some of which house 400 people sharing a single toilet—has taken a severe toll on Gaza’s residents. OCHA reported that the demand for mental health care is “skyrocketing,” particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, individuals with disabilities, and those with pre-existing complex conditions. “Only limited psychosocial support services and psychological first aid are available in some shelters across Gaza where protection actors are present and can respond,” OCHA noted. Many services have reportedly been destroyed, and numerous staff members are unable to perform their duties. OCHA also highlighted a rise in the number of unaccompanied children and separated families. The UN Office stated that an interagency plan is being developed to address this issue, including the registration of cases.
In a statement, OCHA chief and UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Griffiths welcomed the agreement. “I hope it provides some respite to the people of Gaza and Israel, and relief to the hostages and detainees who will be released, as well as to their families. I also hope it allows grieving families to honor their deceased and bury them with dignity,” he expressed. Humanitarian organizations are mobilized and prepared to increase the amount of aid sent into Gaza and distributed throughout the area, he added. As they await the pause to take effect, they reiterate their call for full compliance with international humanitarian law, safe and unrestricted access to deliver aid to those in need, protection for civilians, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
