“The prospect of a ceasefire in Gaza is to be welcomed, however overdue. But this is a time for vigilance, not congratulations. The coming days and weeks will be a test of all parties’ willingness to work in good faith to secure and implement the deal, and to prioritise peace over political gamesmanship.

Palestinian civilians in Gaza, Israeli hostages and their families all deserve an end to their suffering and the chance to rebuild their lives with security and human rights guaranteed. We need massive, unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza, with full political and financial support for UNRWA as the indispensable lead agency.

We cannot allow a durable ceasefire to simply freeze the conflict or turn the clock back to before 7 October 2023. As a new era dawns in international affairs, all parties and their allies must prioritise addressing the root causes of the conflict, ending Israel’s unlawful occupation and providing mutual security, self-determination and statehood for Palestinians and Israelis alike. Inclusive dialogue and political solutions remain the only way to end this conflict once and for all.”

For media inquiries, please contact William French, Head of Communications ([email protected]).