Gaza: Doctors of the World Welcomes the Announcement of a Ceasefire but Reiterates Its Call for a Permanent Ceasefire

An agreement has been announced today for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages. Doctors of the World welcomes this progress after 15 months of massacres inflicted on the Palestinian people. We renew our call for a permanent ceasefire, a vital condition for the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid and the establishment of lasting peace.

As Gaza experiences its second winter under fire, this agreement offers a glimmer of hope and relief for our teams on the ground, the civilian population, and for hostages, prisoners, and their families. However, this announcement remains fragile, contingent on numerous steps and conditions. Caution is therefore essential to ensure the effective implementation of this agreement and to prevent a return to violence.

The agreement must now be accompanied without delay by the removal of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip to address the urgent needs of 1.9 million displaced civilians surviving in inhumane conditions.

Rebuilding Gaza, especially its healthcare system—systematically targeted and destroyed by the Israeli military—must be a priority. Israel, as the occupying power, and the international community must urgently enable the rehabilitation of hospitals and health centres. Our teams are ready to support and contribute to this critical reconstruction effort alongside local and international partners.

“For over a year, Palestinians have been losing family members, friends, their homes, and their neighbourhoods every day. Constantly displaced, they are deprived of healthcare, food, and water. Their suffering is immense. This agreement must swiftly lead to a lasting ceasefire to restore access to healthcare today and to begin the path to reconstruction tomorrow,” said Dr Jean-François Corty, President of Médecins du Monde France.

Photo © M. Zaanoun