Relief, Hope as Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal Emerges

As Gazans and Israelis celebrated news of a potential ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, UN aid agencies on Thursday emphasized their readiness to deliver relief supplies to the famine-hit enclave and called for the immediate release of all hostages.

“There is a very positive, jubilant mood in Gaza this morning and overnight,” said Olga Cherevko from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. “People were whistling, partying, and celebrating.”

Speaking to UN News from the devastated enclave, Cherevko stressed that immediate humanitarian priorities remain unchanged: “We must reach the most vulnerable with assistance in adequate volumes and ensure delivery to those in need. Obviously, no amount of aid can replace peace, so this deal is more important than ever.”

UN agencies have some 170,000 metric tons of food, shelter, medicine, and other critical items in storage outside Gaza. These can be transported as soon as a ceasefire is implemented, she added, noting that fighting had not yet stopped on Thursday morning.

The development followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Wednesday evening that Israel and Hamas had “signed off” on the first phase of his 20-point peace plan after days of indirect negotiations in Egypt. Trump posted that Hamas had agreed to release all hostages, potentially as soon as Monday.

His comments came at the end of a third day of indirect talks involving US mediators, with representatives from Qatar and Turkey also participating. During the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2025, 251 people were taken hostage, with 48 reportedly still held in Gaza and around 20 confirmed alive.

Other elements of the deal reportedly include the withdrawal of Israeli military forces to “an agreed-upon line,” according to Trump. Hamas leaders called on the international community to ensure Israel abides by the agreement, including the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “great day for Israel” ahead of a security cabinet meeting to approve the first phase of the deal, including an immediate ceasefire.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the agreement, stating: “I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, based on President Trump’s proposal.”

UN aid chief Tom Fletcher urged swift action: “Get the hostages out and surge aid in—fast. Our teams are fully mobilized to move trucks at scale and save lives. Safe access is essential.”

Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, highlighted the “huge relief” felt by those impacted by the war, which has killed tens of thousands of Gazans and nearly 1,200 Israelis in the 2023 Hamas attacks. “The agreement will bring respite to people who survived the worst bombardment, displacement, loss, and grief for two years,” he said.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the ongoing dire needs of patients in Gaza and said the agency “stands ready to scale up its work to support rehabilitation of the destroyed health system.”

Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, echoed the call for an immediate ceasefire and stressed the urgent need to deliver aid. “Unrestricted humanitarian access is urgently needed to deliver life-saving food and assistance. WFP is on the ground and ready to scale up operations, but we need to move NOW—there is no time to waste.”