The ceasefire that came into effect on 10 October 2025 in Gaza marks a desperately needed pause in the devastation and offers a long-awaited moment of relief for exhausted, starved, and grieving Palestinians, and solace to the families of Israeli hostages who have lived in anguish and uncertainty.

Within days of the ceasefire’s announcement, Caritas Jerusalem mobilized its emergency network across the Gaza Strip. Medical teams distributed 10,000 cans of infant formula to families with newborns and young children who had endured months without basic nutrition. The supplies were delivered through Caritas medical points across Gaza, reaching the most vulnerable swiftly and safely despite enormous logistical obstacles.

The peace deal follows more than two years of devastation, during which over 67,000 people have been killed, although the actual number of fatalities is likely to be much higher, and more than 165,000 people injured across the Gaza Strip. Building on its ten medical centers in the region, Caritas Jerusalem and its partners stand ready to scale up their response with a clear commitment to bring healing, dignity and solidarity to those who have endured unimaginable suffering.

Yet even in the deepest darkness, the Pope reminded all that the Lord’s love extends to everyone, as expressed in his recent Exhortation Dilexi Te: “I have loved you.” He also called on the parties involved to continue courageously on the path they have chosen, striving for a just and lasting peace that honors the legitimate aspirations of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.

Humanitarian catastrophe and the urgency of response

Gaza is now almost totally destroyed. According to satellite imagery, more than 83 per cent of buildings in Gaza City are ruined or destroyed. Hospitals stand in ruins, and thousands of wounded people await treatment. Malnutrition spreads rapidly among children and pregnant women, while nearly two million people face the coming winter without proper shelter, fuel, or clean water.

Therefore, Caritas Internationalis urges:

• Immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access throughout of more than 170,000 metric tons of food, health and shelter supplies pre-positioned in the region and ready for immediate dispatch into Gaza. Delay is costing lives, access must be granted now
• Expansion of crossing points to enable a continuous and unimpeded flow of life-saving aid.
• Urgent restoration of the UN-led humanitarian coordination mechanism to ensure impartial, secure and principled delivery.
• Authorization of medical evacuations for those requiring urgent specialist care. Denial is a violation of international humanitarian law.
• Scaled up psycho-social support for traumatized populations, especially for children and caregivers, whose suffering cannot be addressed by food alone.
• Protection of civilians, especially children, women, persons with disabilities and the elderly, and accountability for all violations. Gross violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law must be documented and prosecuted.

• Full accountability for all perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity before national and international courts. Impunity must end.
• The facilitation of NGO access, including the reversal of de-registration efforts that obstruct humanitarian presence and delivery.
• Protection of all humanitarian workers, after the killing of 565 humanitarians, since October 2023, including two from Caritas Jerusalem, is essential. This unprecedented assault on humanitarian space must stop.
• The full implementation of the recommendations contained in the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024.

Due to the severe mental and physical suffering in Gaza, we believe that no one can afford to wait another day. Medical equipment, medicines, food, and water must be safely delivered immediately. Every hour of delay deepens the suffering and undermines the fragile hope that this peace has brought.

Caritas Internationalis stands ready to support all victims and urges all actors and leaders to transform this historic truce into lasting peace.