In a statement made on Thursday, US President Joe Biden expressed the necessity for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate the release of prisoners from the sector.
Biden added that there is a need for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza to get the prisoners out of the sector, indicating that this ceasefire would provide the time needed for the prisoner release process.
Biden acknowledged the sentiments regarding the conflict in Gaza, which he described as “very complex for the Israelis, and for the Islamic world too,” affirming his support for the two-state solution since the beginning.
On a related note, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, visited Gaza on Wednesday, reiterating the agency’s ongoing commitment to its operations there despite the loss of around 70 of its staff since the onset of the Israeli assault on the sector.
During his visit to Gaza, Lazzarini met with agency staff who continue working in the war-torn sector, reassuring them with his message, “UNRWA remains.”
Moreover, Martin Griffiths, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted on Wednesday that the fighting in the Gaza Strip has entered a more horrifying stage with dreadful humanitarian consequences.
He criticized the global community, which “appears unable or unwilling” to act.
Griffiths underscored the horrific bombardment of Jabalia camp, claiming hundreds of lives as one of the latest “atrocities” faced by Gaza residents.
He urged the immediate and widespread provision of life essentials, notably water, food, medicine, and fuel.
Echoing his earlier criticism, Griffiths noted the world’s seeming incapacity or reluctance to intervene, pointing out that the October 7 attack and its implications will leave an indelible impact on the lives of millions.
