The Stamford-based international relief organization Americares hopes the peace treaty and ceasefire in Gaza is permanent some two years after the war with Israel started following a terrorist attack by Hamas.
On Monday all 20 living hostages were freed in Israel as thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, singing and cheering. President Trump visited Egypt for a ceremony marking the momentous event. Meanwhile, the remains of more than 20 dead hostages were not immediately returned. At the same time nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel were freed as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal that the US helped broker.
“Americares is heartened by the news of a ceasefire in Gaza and forthcoming release of hostages,” the organization said in a prepared statement. “Too many innocent lives have been lost and there’s been far too much suffering.
“Our hope is that this pause in hostilities will be permanent, and the people of Gaza will finally get the essential aid they need to not only survive, but to begin the recovery process. This is long overdue after two years of relentless violence, forced displacement and restrictions on food and medicine deliveries have led to a humanitarian catastrophe.”
Americares has been working nonstop to support partner aid organizations in Gaza as their teams risk their own lives to save others. Unprecedented restrictions on humanitarian aid, including a near-total blockade since March, have made it nearly impossible to do their work. “Never in our 46 years of responding to crises around the world have we faced such obstacles,” Americares stated. “Many questions remain about the path forward, including when we can resume delivering lifesaving medical aid before more lives are lost. But we remain optimistic and stand ready to scale up operations. Lives depend on it.”
Since October 2023, Americares has provided 35 tons of essential medicine and medical supplies to Gaza, including enough medicine to fill more than 350,000 prescriptions. It has supported medical care for more than 43,000 patients in Gaza and provided mental health support for over 27,000 people coping with unimaginable trauma.
“Over 500,000 people are facing starvation, and another one million are at risk,” Americares stated. “There are no fully functioning hospitals, and there is zero stock for over half of the essential medicines in Gaza.”
The health care system in Gaza has collapsed due to attacks on health facilities and shortages of electricity, medicine, equipment and specialized personnel. There are no fully functioning hospitals for a population of more than 2 million people. Gaza’s health workers continue to serve their communities while they themselves are under siege, but without urgent action, their ability to save lives will come to a halt, Americares stated.
Americares used much of the same language in a pitch to prospective donors of at least $125 to help those Palestinians in need in Gaza.
