United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher announced on Thursday that the UN has finalized plans for a large-scale humanitarian operation in Gaza following the implementation of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement.
Israel and Hamas announced on Thursday that they had agreed a Gaza ceasefire deal, offering a tentative path toward ending the two-year conflict that has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, injured almost 170,000 others, and left the enclave in ruins.
The top UN humanitarian official welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, reiterating that the UN humanitarian family is "expert and determined", with a detailed plan and tons of supplies in place.
"So our plan, detailed and tested, is in place. Our supplies, 170,000 metric tons - food, medicine and other supplies, are in place. And our team, courageous and expert and determined, are in place," said Fletcher.
Fletcher emphasized that the UN's goal is to scale up deliveries to several hundred trucks per day, expanding food availability to the approximately 2.1 million people in need across Gaza, where parts of the territory have already experienced famine. He also called on the international community to generously and provide assistance for the region.
Just hours after the ceasefire deal was reached, France hosted a high-level diplomatic meeting in Paris, bringing together foreign ministers of European and Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and the UK, to coordinate post-conflict support for Palestine. Representatives from Türkiye and the European Union also attended the meeting. In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry said the gathering aims to define collective commitments to ensure the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and lay the groundwork for its follow-up arrangements. Key topics include Palestinian territorial security, governance, and reconstruction after the conflict.
At the end of July this year, France and Saudi Arabia co-hosted a high-level international conference at the United Nations for the peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue and the implementation of the two-state solution. The conference resulted in the adoption of the New York Declaration, which was subsequently endorsed by the UN General Assembly on September 12, despite opposition from the United States and Israel.
In September, several countries, including France, the UK, Portugal, Canada, and Australia officially, announced their recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Meanwhile, Egypt confirmed on Thursday that an Egypt-Europe joint mechanism will temporarily manage the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing. According to the ceasefire agreement reached the same day in Sharm el Sheikh, the Rafah crossing is to be reopened within 72 hours after the ceasefire's activation.
UN details Gaza aid plan after ceasefire
UN details Gaza aid plan after ceasefire
