Israel-Hamas ceasefire sparks hope for aid in Gaza, but hurdles persist

Israel-Hamas ceasefire brings hope for aid to Palestinians, but challenges remain in delivering life-saving assistance.

An Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal expected to take effect on Sunday (January 19, 2025) has sparked hope for life-saving aid to reach Palestinians, but aid agencies warn of obstacles from destroyed infrastructure, massive need and collapsed law and order.

Announcing the truce, United States President Joe Biden said on Wednesday (January 15, 2025) it would “surge much needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians”.

The United Nations’ humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called it “a moment of hope and opportunity” but said “we should be under no illusions how tough it will still be to get support to survivors.”

On the ground in the territory, where nearly all 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once, aid workers worry nothing will be enough to meet the need.

“Everything has been destroyed. Children are on the streets. You can’t pinpoint just one priority,” Doctors Without Borders (MSF) coordinator Amande Bazerolle told AFP by phone from Gaza.

Speaking from the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, Mohammed al-Khatib, of Medical Aid for Palestinians, said local aid workers haven’t stopped for 15 months even though they themselves are displaced. “Everyone is exhausted,” he said.

“In the hunger-stricken makeshift shelters set up in former schools, bombed-out houses and cemeteries, hundreds of thousands lack even plastic sheeting to protect from winter rains and biting winds,” Gavin Kelleher, of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told AFP.