Humanitarian Coalition calls for potential ceasefire in Gaza to be permanent and immediate, highlights massive humanitarian needs

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The Humanitarian Coalition welcomes the news of a potential ceasefire in Gaza and calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities--not in four days, but right now. Fifteen months of daily bombings and attacks have decimated Gaza, resulting in a massive humanitarian crisis. A sustained surge in unfettered and safe humanitarian access is critical for meeting urgent life-saving needs for the hundreds of thousands of children and families in Gaza.  

After more than a year of daily bombings and attacks in Gaza:  

• 46,645 people are confirmed to have been killed  
• Tens of thousands of bodies are estimated to be buried under the rubble of bombed buildings and homes
• More than 110,000 people have been injured
• 90 per cent of the population (1.9 million people) have been forced from their homes by violence
• 345,000 people are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity  
• Homes, hospitals, roads, water and sanitation facilities, farms, and businesses have been destroyed  
• Children have been out of school for 15 months  

We are deeply concerned about the coming hours and days before the ceasefire is meant to come into effect. When children and families in Gaza hear 'ceasefire in four days', historically this forewarns of four brutal days of relentless bombings and an escalation in fatalities. In the true spirit of a ceasefire, this must not happen.  

Humanitarian response

Our members are actively responding to this crisis--many of them have been responding to humanitarian needs in Gaza for decades. Members are providing food, water, emergency health services, psychosocial support, shelter, and child protection services. Yet, the needs massively outpace the available resources and access.  

We continue to call for the respect and upholding of international humanitarian law, not only in the days ahead, but also in the months to come. We also call for the immediate release of all unjustly detained people and hostages.  

We fervently hope that this latest announcement will lead to a permanent and lasting peace and that every person--no matter where they live--realizes the full extent of their human rights and potential.  

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