Gaza: Humanitarians stand ready to ramp up aid deliveries in wake of Israel, Hamas agreement

Statement by Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

I welcome the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar supported by Egypt and the United States. I hope it brings some respite to the people of Gaza and Israel and some relief to the hostages and detainees who will be released and to their families.

I also hope it allows grieving families to honour their dead and bury them with dignity.

I look forward to the implementation of the humanitarian pause and hope it leads to a longer-term humanitarian ceasefire – for the benefit of the people of Gaza, Israel and beyond.

Humanitarian agencies are mobilized and ready to increase the volume of aid brought into Gaza and distributed across the Strip.

As we wait for the pause to come into effect, we renew our call for:

• Full adherence to international humanitarian law.
• Safe and unimpeded humanitarian access into and across Gaza so that we can deliver aid to people in need wherever they are.
• The protection of civilians, including by allowing them to seek safety from hostilities.
• The immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

New York, 22 November 2023