The Humanitarian Coordinator after visiting Gaza: People want to work and return to their homes

Muhannad Hadi, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, shared his impressions after visiting Gaza, describing it as one of the most hopeful moments in his 35-year humanitarian career.

He said that for the first time in months, he saw people in the streets, beginning to clean roads and trying to rebuild their lives.

“It made me very happy to see that people already started moving back to their places of origin,” he said.

While acknowledging the ongoing suffering, Mr. Hadi noted a shift in attitude among Gazans, many of whom expressed a strong desire to return to work and rebuild rather than depend on aid.

Women and children he spoke to highlighted urgent needs such as education, blankets for winter and basic clothing after months of deprivation.

Mr. Hadi also visited the logistics cluster and milling facilities, where operators were eager to restart operations but faced barriers such as fuel shortages and a lack of spare parts. He also emphasised the need for international media to return to Gaza and report firsthand on the situation.

The crisis in Gaza continues to remain acute

The crisis in Gaza continues to remain acute, with UN humanitarians reporting critical shortages of water, food and efforts to deliver vital aid to the war-torn region. Meanwhile, escalating violence in the West Bank has further deepened concerns over civilian safety and access to assistance.

The ceasefire and hostage release agreement, which took effect on Sunday allowed some displaced residents to return, but hundreds of thousands across the Gaza Strip remain dependent on humanitarian aid, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists at the regular press briefing in New York on Tuesday.

“With the ceasefire in place, displaced Palestinians have been making their way back home, with many returning to find mountains of rubble,” he said.

He added that over 90 per cent of housing units in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed over the past 15 months, according to partner organizations.

“Given the scale of destruction and needs in Gaza, we are working to get vital aid to people as fast as humanly possible. We also urge Member States and partners to ensure that our aid operations are funded to meet the overwhelming needs,” he said.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), on Tuesday, 897 trucks entered Gaza, based on the information obtained through interactions with the Israeli authorities and other interlocutors.

West Bank violence intensifies

Mr. Haq also expressed deep concerns over the situation in the West Bank, in particular the safety of Palestinians in Jenin city and its refugee camp, where Israeli military operations on Tuesday resulted in fatalities and injuries.

“According to initial reports, air strikes, heavy bulldozing and the operation of undercover forces have resulted in several fatalities and dozens of injuries – including among medical personnel,” he said.

The operation follows weeks of clashes between Israeli forces and armed Palestinians. Earlier violence had displaced approximately 2,000 families from Jenin camp, with basic services like water and electricity severely disrupted.

Humanitarians have struggled to access the area safely, limiting aid distribution such as mattresses and blankets.