Kushner discusses Gaza demilitarization plan

Unrwa has the capacity and expertise to support a postwar Gaza. We want to help make this peace work | Philippe Lazzarini

With a ceasefire in place, rebuilding must begin, justice must be delivered, and healing must be addressed by Palestinian and Israeli societies. Philippe Lazzarini is the commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). After two years of brutal warfare in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire—the first phase of President Donald Trump’s twenty-point plan—offers some respite to an exhausted population. For UNRWA colleagues on the ground in Gaza, the constant fear of being killed by bombs and guns may have abated, but there is still much to worry about: access to shelter, food and clean water remains challenging, and winter is approaching fast. There is no time to lose in tackling widespread hunger and disease. The scale of physical and psychological trauma is immense, and expectations about access to healthcare and education are growing. The next weeks and months will determine whether this watershed moment leads to a new dawn or be a prelude to greater despair. Philippe Lazzarini is commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.