UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has described the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the simultaneous release of captives and Palestinian prisoners and detainees as "a huge relief" after two years of genocidal bombardment and mass displacement, while cautioning that aid delivery and safety guarantees remain critical as "Israel" reportedly resumed strikes even after the truce took effect.

"The agreement to finally secure a ceasefire in Gaza and release the hostages is a huge relief," Lazzarini said in a statement on Wednesday. "It will bring respite to people who survived the worst bombardment, displacement, loss, and grief for two long years."

His remarks came hours after Egypt confirmed the ceasefire's entry into effect, though Israeli officials have disputed the timing, insisting it would begin only after cabinet approval later Thursday. Despite the announcement, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported renewed Israeli bombing on Gaza City, casting doubt on the truce's durability during its first hours.

Lazzarini noted that UNRWA has food, medicines, and essential supplies ready to move immediately into Gaza. "We have enough to provide food for the entire population for the coming three months," he said, noting that UNRWA teams on the ground will be crucial for implementing the agreement, restoring access to healthcare, sanitation, and education.

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"There are over 660,000 children who are eagerly waiting to go back to school. UNRWA teachers stand ready to help them fulfill that," he added.

Fragile ceasefire unfolds

The ceasefire, brokered through mediation by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States, is expected to facilitate the entry of at least 400 aid trucks daily into the besieged enclave, rising in the days ahead. A Hamas official confirmed the movement would release 20 Israeli captives in exchange for over 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds serving life sentences.

Still, reports of continued Israeli air raids and warnings from Gaza's Civil Defense urging civilians not to return to unsafe areas highlight the fragility of the situation. Many neighborhoods remain destroyed, with occupation forces still present in multiple zones, and humanitarian officials caution that unrestricted access for relief operations is essential to prevent renewed catastrophe.

Lazzarini appealed to UN member states to sustain funding for UNRWA at this "critical moment", warning that the agency's ability to stabilize Gaza and assist survivors depends on urgent international support.

For Gaza's 2.3 million people, many starving, displaced, and grieving, the truce offers only a brief pause amid ongoing genocide, and for UNRWA, it marks the beginning of an immense humanitarian mission to feed, shelter, and educate a population shattered by war.

Read more: 2 years of genocide in Gaza: Death, hunger, and destruction persist