Gaza: Hostages Freed as Aid Deliveries Accelerate, Say Agencies

Children in Gaza celebrate the ceasefire.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday welcomed the release of all living hostages from Gaza, as aid agencies confirmed that lifesaving relief supplies are now entering the shattered enclave on a large scale.

Mr. Guterres expressed his “profound relief” that the hostages had finally been freed—two years after they were among around 250 people abducted during Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023. He also acknowledged their “immense suffering” during captivity.

The UN chief made his remarks en route to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, where he joined world leaders for a Gaza peace summit. The international gathering followed Israel’s partial troop withdrawal from Gaza, in line with an agreement between Israel and Hamas brokered in Egypt with the help of US mediators and representatives from Qatar and Türkiye.

In a message on X, Mr. Guterres urged all parties to build on the ceasefire momentum and to honour their commitments. He also called for the release of the bodies of deceased hostages, appealing for “an end to the nightmare in Gaza.”

UN aid agencies reported major progress in delivering humanitarian relief to Gaza.

“Our humanitarian scale-up in Gaza is well underway,” said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The agency confirmed Israeli approval for 190,000 tonnes of food, shelter items, medicine, and other supplies to enter the Strip—20,000 more than previously agreed.

For the first time since March, cooking gas has also been allowed in. In addition, “more tents for displaced families, frozen meat, fresh fruit, flour and medicines crossed into Gaza throughout Sunday,” OCHA noted in an update.

Crucially, OCHA reported that aid workers and partners were now able to move more freely “in multiple areas” following months of severe access restrictions. This has enabled humanitarian teams to pre-position medical and emergency supplies “where they are needed most,” assess roads for explosive hazards, and support displaced families in flood-prone areas ahead of winter.

“This is just the beginning,” OCHA said. “As part of our plan for the first 60 days of the ceasefire, the UN and partners will expand the scale and scope of our operations to deliver life-saving aid and services to virtually everyone across Gaza.”

The expanded humanitarian plan, outlined by UN emergency relief chief Tom Fletcher, includes:

Food assistance for 2.1 million people through in-kind rations, bakery and kitchen support, livelihood recovery for herders and fishers, and cash aid for 200,000 families.

Nutrition programmes providing screenings and nutrient-rich food for children, adolescents, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Health services restoration with essential medicines, enhanced disease surveillance, and expanded emergency, maternal, and mental healthcare.

Water and sanitation projects for 1.4 million people, repairing grids and sewage systems, distributing hygiene supplies, and improving waste management.

Shelter support for displaced and vulnerable families through tents, tarpaulins, and winter materials.

Education initiatives reopening temporary learning spaces for 700,000 children with essential materials and activities.

Two years of extreme violence and continuous Israeli bombardment have left countless families without homes and with deep psychological wounds.

UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund, reported that “all one million” children in Gaza now require mental health and psychosocial support. The war has severely disrupted their sense of safety, development, and wellbeing, with many showing signs of trauma such as withdrawal, nightmares, and bedwetting.

To help them cope, UNICEF supports a self-help recovery programme where trainers teach stress-management techniques to process painful thoughts and emotions. One such tool is an imaginary “safety button” that children can press when overwhelmed.

“Whenever I felt scared, I would put my hand on the safety button and take a deep breath in and out. It made me feel so relieved,” said Anas, 15, one of the programme’s participants.

UNICEF said that in 2025, eight out of ten children who took part in the initiative showed reduced symptoms of traumatic stress.