Statement by Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) on the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas:
Gaza: Ceasefire must lead to lasting truce and trigger massive aid expansion
“At long last we have a deal that must end the 15 months of relentless death, destruction, displacement, detention, and the holding of hostages. This ceasefire must be the foundation for an enduring truce that can pave the way for peace and human rights for long-suffering civilian populations.
“Israel must immediately lift all restrictions on aid and humanitarian agencies to avert famine-like conditions and ensure access to shelter, food, and medical care for all in need. Hamas and other armed groups must meet their commitments and release the hostages without delay.
“The vast majority of homes in Gaza are destroyed or damaged. These must be repaired and rebuilt along with schools, hospitals and other destroyed civilian infrastructure.
“The unprecedented devastation requires massive and immediate international relief and rehabilitation, beginning with this ceasefire. We call on the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations to make sure Israel does keep all crossings open, enabling a sustained flow of aid that can alleviate further suffering.
“These hostilities have destabilised the Middle East and exposed millions of civilians to unrelenting violence. The Gaza ceasefire must not only introduce a lasting cessation of hostilities, but a firm commitment to international law, including accountability for war crimes.
“To end the cycle of violence, the international community must address the root causes of this decades-long conflict and pursue a just resolution in alignment with international law.
“NRC’s courageous teams on the ground in Gaza are prepared to scale up our efforts, helping families begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.”
Multimedia content:
- Photos and videos from Gaza can be downloaded for free use here.
For information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC's global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media adviser: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147
“At long last we have a deal that must end the 15 months of relentless death, destruction, displacement, detention, and the holding of hostages. This ceasefire must be the foundation for an enduring truce that can pave the way for peace and human rights for long-suffering civilian populations.
“Israel must immediately lift all restrictions on aid and humanitarian agencies to avert famine-like conditions and ensure access to shelter, food, and medical care for all in need. Hamas and other armed groups must meet their commitments and release the hostages without delay.
“The vast majority of homes in Gaza are destroyed or damaged. These must be repaired and rebuilt along with schools, hospitals and other destroyed civilian infrastructure.
“The unprecedented devastation requires massive and immediate international relief and rehabilitation, beginning with this ceasefire. We call on the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations to make sure Israel does keep all crossings open, enabling a sustained flow of aid that can alleviate further suffering.
“These hostilities have destabilised the Middle East and exposed millions of civilians to unrelenting violence. The Gaza ceasefire must not only introduce a lasting cessation of hostilities, but a firm commitment to international law, including accountability for war crimes.
“To end the cycle of violence, the international community must address the root causes of this decades-long conflict and pursue a just resolution in alignment with international law.
“NRC’s courageous teams on the ground in Gaza are prepared to scale up our efforts, helping families begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.”
Multimedia content:
- Photos and videos from Gaza can be downloaded for free use here.
For information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- NRC's global media hotline: media@nrc.no, +47 905 62 329
- Ahmed Bayram, Middle East and North Africa regional media adviser: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no, +962 790 160 147