The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Virginia Gamba, welcomes the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas, with the mediation of Qatar and supported by Egypt and the United States of America. This is a positive development, following the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2712 (2023), addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and its grave impact on the civilian population, especially the disproportionate effect on children.
“I welcome this agreement which must be used to allow the release of all children held hostage by Hamas and respond to the vast needs of the population in Gaza and particularly children, which I would like to remind are the most vulnerable in situations of armed conflict. I call for its immediate implementation and urge on all parties to respect their commitment. This is an important first step, but more needs to be done. Armed conflicts inflict the harshest toll on children, with long-lasting effects on their physical and mental well-being. Only peace can bring an end to the suffering of children,” said the Special Representative.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Ariane Lignier, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, New York. ariane.lignier@un.org
