UNRWA Demands Immediate Gaza Ceasefire on War's Second Anniversary

Marking two years of devastating conflict, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees has made an urgent appeal for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The UN agency declared the two-year duration of hostilities as "two years too long" in a statement released through social media platform X.

The UNRWA statement emphasized the critical need for both the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees while calling for the complete lifting of Israel's blockade. The agency stressed that only through a UN-supervised mechanism can adequate humanitarian aid and commercial supplies reach Gaza's civilian population, which has endured unprecedented suffering since the conflict began in October 2023.

The Israeli military campaign has resulted in over 67,100 Palestinian fatalities, with women and children comprising the majority of casualties. The continuous bombardment has left the coastal enclave largely uninhabitable, creating mass displacement, widespread starvation, and the emergence of preventable diseases throughout the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Israeli and Hamas delegations have commenced indirect talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss the 20-point peace proposal advanced by US President Donald Trump. The negotiation framework includes provisions for the release of Israeli captives within 72 hours of Israel's approval, implementation of a ceasefire, and the disarmament of Hamas forces in the Palestinian territory.