Gaza: The chief of the 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.

According to Anadolu Agency, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed relief over the ceasefire agreement, emphasizing that it would provide much-needed respite to the people of Gaza who have endured severe hardships over the past two years. Lazzarini made these remarks on US social media company X.

Lazzarini highlighted that UNRWA currently has enough medicine, essential supplies, and food to sustain the entire Gaza population for the next three months. He underscored the crucial role of UNRWA teams in implementing the ceasefire agreement and urged all UN member states to extend their support to enable the agency to assist those in need during this critical period.

The ceasefire agreement was brokered between Israel and Hamas in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, based on a plan presented by US President Donald Trump. This 20-point plan, announced on September 29, includes the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas, and the rebuilding of Gaza.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of nearly 67,200 Palestinians in Gaza, with a majority being women and children. The continuous bombardment has rendered Gaza largely uninhabitable, causing widespread starvation and outbreaks of disease.