UN Humanitarian Chief Calls for Increased Access to Gaza Amid Ceasefire Concerns
Khan Younis, gaza – The UN’s humanitarian chief is urging Israel to open more crossings into Gaza to facilitate the delivery of essential aid, as residents express deep skepticism about the durability of the current ceasefire and fears of renewed conflict drive up demand for basic goods.
Residents displaced by fighting report a desperate lack of resources, with some resorting to hoarding food in anticipation of further shortages. “Every time we start to feel safe, new threats appear, and we fear the war will start all over again,” said Neven Al-Mughrabi, a mother-of-six displaced from Gaza City and now living in Khan Younis. “I lost my house in Gaza City, I decided to stay here with my family because I don’t trust the ceasefire and we’re sick of displacement.” Al-Mughrabi reported a 30% surge in prices for flour, oil, and sugar, with people buying “as if they don’t trust the calm will last long, everyone is afraid aid will stop.”
Khaled Halas, a father-of-six displaced from the Shuja’iyya area of Gaza City to deir al-Balah, described dire conditions: “no water, no electricity and no tents.” he added, “The Shuja’iyya [area] is fully closed. I went to the vegetable market where gunfire broke out, we have no protection. There is constant shooting in our area, and life there is completely destroyed.”
The growing unease coincides with ongoing mediation efforts in Egypt aimed at resolving differences between Hamas and Israel and maintaining the ceasefire agreement.
Complicating the situation,the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Wednesday that one of four bodies returned by Hamas overnight ”does not match any of the hostages” after examination. The other three bodies were identified as Tamir Nimrodi, 20, Eitan Levy, 53, and Uriel Baruch, 35, by the Hostages Families Forum.
The ceasefire agreement acknowledges the possibility that Hamas and other Palestinian factions may not have located all hostage remains by the initial deadline. Under the terms of the agreement, Israel is to return the bodies of 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli hostage. Israel has so far returned the bodies of 90 Palestinians, confirmed by the Hamas-run health ministry.
The delay in the return of Israeli hostage remains has sparked anger in Israel. Rotem, the son of Amiram Cooper – whose body remains in Gaza – stated that hostage families are “trying to find the strength somehow to pick ourselves up… and continue the fight,” and accused Hamas of “playing games.”
