Gaza: The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, emphasized the importance of including children’s education in any agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Lazzarini highlighted the need to prioritize education for over 660,000 children who have been out of school for the third consecutive year.

According to Qatar News Agency, Lazzarini took to the X platform to express that any proposed plan should offer hope to these children and that their return to education should be a collective priority to foster lasting peace and stability. He noted that UNRWA possesses the necessary workforce, infrastructure, and expertise to facilitate a phased return to formal education once a ceasefire is achieved.

Before the conflict, Lazzarini explained, UNRWA had been providing education to more than 300,000 children in its schools. He urged member states to support UNRWA’s mandate and efforts to continue making a significant impact on the lives and futures of Palestinian children. He warned that without education, children are at risk of exploitation or being drawn into extremism.

Lazzarini concluded his statement with a call for an immediate ceasefire, highlighting the urgent need for action. Meanwhile, the US President announced a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict through a series of measures, including ensuring continuous humanitarian aid, preventing displacement, securing the release of hostages, and establishing a peace process based on a two-state solution. This plan aims to achieve regional stability and security by fully uniting Gaza with the West Bank in a Palestinian state in accordance with international law.